I come before you all once more not for me, but for a family I meet briefly today. I am a medic in rural NY and work on a paramedic intercept flycar. Today I was called to a three car MVA. Rescue took over 20 minutes to get a young girl of 12 out of the van. She was in the third row of seats, but the rear end collision had pushed her forward so she was right behind the driver seat. I can't tell you to much, only that in the ambulance me and the other members of the crew worked on her. We diverted to the LZ to load her on the Mercy Flight Helicopter that was standing by. We worked as a team to get her ready, loaded her and put her on the helicopter. As the bird left we were told the mother wanted to talk to us so we walked the block and a half to the hospital. We had just arrived and were waiting to see the mother when dispatch called that the helicopter was returning. We ran back to the LZ where they were just unloading her from the bird and placing her in the ambulance. I hoped in and took over CPR. I continued CPR for the next 45 minutes as the entire team worked to save this young lady. We had a PA, a NA a surgeon, 2 respiratory Therapist, 2 Paediatric docs and the nursing team. We are just a small country hospital but we did our best. I ask for everyone to pray for the family tonight. Pray for God to take them into his loving hands and hold them tight. You all were there for me, now I ask for you to be there for this family. I know you will because ren people are the best. Thank you.
Frank
My thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Praying as hard as I can.
Thoughts and prayers go out to the family.......
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, also.
Thank you all for your prayers. They buried the young girl today. What I feared would happen has happened. The mother is blaming herself and it will take her a long time to heal. She needs to understand it wasn't her fault. It was the other driver, who by the way was on drugs at the time of the accident. She never touched her breaks before impact. I have not talked with the family, I have my own personal issues since I was the medic in charge. How do you say to the family I'm sorry I couldn't save your daughter. Once more thank you for your prayers I'm sure they have helped this family.
Xantrawler .......
I will be thinking of you and your crew at this time. You all have chosen to help people in need. It is so rewarding to 'save' a life, but then there are those times, you have to step back and remind yourself, you did all that you could do.
Be thankful, you are able to help others, through your caring and devotion, of your work. It takes someone with compassion to do what you all do.
Don't let yourself be wracked with the "what ifs"........or you may loose the 'fire' that keeps you burning with determination, to help those in the future.
If ever I am in need of an EMT, I hope he/she is as caring as you, Xantrawler.
I am praying for peace for this family, particularly for the mother, who was at the wheel. It goes against the natural order of things for a child to be taken before the parents, particularly by the carelessness of another, and I sympathize with they pain they are in. I hope this terrible loss will work to bind them together tightly in healing, and that they will find comfort in the joy the received from such a bright, though briefly, shining star.
I pray also for peace for you, Xantrawler... As the rescuer, you feel so deeply each life you touch, and to lose one you struggled so very hard to save must, indeed, weigh heavily on your spirit, particularly at this time of year when families gather to reaffirm their love and devotion for one another. You have not only my prayers, but also my gratitude, my respect and my admiration. Thank you for choosing to be the lifeline that those in need can reach for when all hope seems to be lost, and for putting your own life on the line in the quest to save the lives of others, strangers to you, all. You are a hero... whether you feel like one, or not.
I can truly say I have walked in your shoes. What helped me was an unsolicited call from the county coroner telling me that the autopsy showed my patient could not have survived no matter what anyone did. You might want to find what triggered the cardiac arrest.
Try to not dwell on the patients that do not survive. Rejoice in the positive impact you make on every call.