Isn’t it funny how certain patients stick in your mind? I’ve been a nurse for a very long time. I have taken care of hundreds, if not thousands of patients. There are certain patients that I will never forget—their bravery, fortitude and attitude permanently etched in my mind.  

Amy was a fifteen year old young woman who suffered with severe asthma, following the birth of a child. She was admitted to my intensive care unit on several occasions, intubated and placed on a ventilator for days to allow her lungs to recover. Amy and I spent many nights, struggling with bronchospasm, copious secretions and respiratory distress. Before the days of Propofol, Versed, Ativan or even paralytics, I managed Amy with Valium and TLC. Amy was always pleasant and cooperative, no matter how scared, or sick she may have been. We developed a trusting relationship, she was never restrained, and eventually was able to perform her own oral suctioning—much to the distress of the nurses on the next shift.

Even today, I think about Amy, and how much she taught me about caring for the ventilated patient. The last time I saw Amy, she was in our emergency room, in great distress preparing to be transported to a large medical center miles away. I held her hand, spoke softly to her, and knew I would never see her again. Amy was dying.    

I remember caring for a man, John, the victim of a boating accident. John was my age, energetic, athletic and a surfer. He enjoyed the carefree lifestyle of . One fateful weekend he traveled north for a few days of water skiing. That weekend changed John’s life forever. In a senseless accident the prop of the boat amputated John’s right leg as he tried to board the boat.

I found John to be a proud, optimistic young man, who sought no pity. John suffered great pain during long endless dressing changes, and worked hard in daily physical therapy  to regain function. I remember the first time his girlfriend came to see him. She was visibly shaken, and had been crying. I remember telling her how important it was for her to be strong and positive. She was not to cry or feel sorry for John, as he had told me he couldn’t stand to see the look of pity in her eyes. I told her if she was not able to do this, then I wouldn’t let her in to see him. I remember this couple because of their strength and bravery. They walked out of the hospital together one sunny morning, as the nursing staff cried and celebrated.     

Myron and his wife loved retirement, golfing, working in the yard and socializing with friends. Myron was mowing his yard one afternoon when his aorta spontaneously ruptured and he was rushed to emergency surgery.  Miraculously he survived the surgery, but spent the next three months on a ventilator in our ICU. I was Myron’s primary nurse for most of his hospital stay. For many weeks following surgery the nursing staff doubted Myron would survive the catastrophic illness. But Myron’s wife never gave up. She would come to the ICU and read him the financial page every day. Myron was a retired stockbroker and followed the market every day she told me. I encouraged her to continue to talk to him and read to him as much as she was able. After many weeks on the ventilator, the day finally arrived when we were able to extubate Myron. We wondered would his cognitive abilities be intact? Would he have a brain? Myron’s wife was at the bedside when we removed the tube. Looking over at his wife his first words were, “Well how much is this going to cost me?” Beautiful music to my ears!

We all have those patients we will never forget. Tell me about your unforgettable patients (first names only, please).