COVID-19 has been with us for a while now, and unfortunately, it’s not going away anytime soon. That’s when we need stories of hope, of perseverance against the odds. This story comes from physical therapist Kevin Rose and it really helps us all to get a glimpse of what our caregivers and patients are going through. Kevin says:
I pulled him to the edge of the bed and as he sat up for the first time he became emotional. With a tube in his mouth and down his throat he couldn't tell me why. When I asked if he was crying because he was happy to be sitting he nodded “yes.” After a few minutes I asked him if he was tired and if he wanted to lie back down. He vigorously shook his head “no.” I asked if he wanted to stand and he nodded “yes!”
With the help of nurse Denise Bogue and respiratory therapist Armon Jorden to manage his ventilator and his plethora of ICU lines, I took him in a bear hug position and helped him to stand. At first his legs would not support him completely. I had my knees blocking his knees and I felt his knees buckling into mine. We stood there for a few minutes like this. He was crying again. I asked him if he wanted to sit back down. He again shook his head. His oxygen levels started to drop a little bit so I had him sit and take a break. His oxygen came back up and I asked if he wanted to stand again and he nodded “yes!”
We stood again in the same fashion for another few minutes. This time, when I asked if he wanted to sit, his response was to muster his last bit of energy and he stood fully erect with his head up high and his knees in full extension. Many of the ICU team looked on and cheered for him.
We needed that win! There have been so many battles won and yet the war is not over. But it will be if we can stay united. I really believe that each kind word or small act of service will be what wins the battles.”
It’s moments like these, seemingly small wins, that make a big difference. We have to keep these stories close to our hearts when we get discouraged. Our caregivers are doing amazing things to help our patients every day.