Hola a tod@s, my dear friends.

Recently I wrote a letter to the family of one of my patients, who unfortunately died despite trying everything.

Life is curious and it seems that we are all connected in one way or another, because I had received something like the reply to that letter.

Yesterday Eva´s husband came to see me. She is a 41 years old woman that was admitted in my ICU last week.

I was phoned from Emergency department because they had done analytics and a C but they did not know what she had and was getting worse.

When we went to see EVA, she just couldn’t breathe and was in multiorgan failure: hemodynamic, renal, respiratory, coagulopathy, thrombocytopenia and lactic acidosis.

We admitted Eva in the ICU and after answer and listen her, I could find the diagnosis.

I explained to José (her husband) that she needed an emergency surgery because if we didn´t controlled the cause, she would not survive. She was in life-threatening situation. Stunned, he perfectly understood the situation.

The fact is that with the surgery, the antibiotic treatment and all the organic support, Eva improved. When last Monday I came into the ICU she was breathing on her own, and the first thing she said to me with a huge smile was: “Thank you for saving my life.”

These simple words connect you instantly. One feels in tune with this work so hard and so incredible at the same time.

I always thought why this happens rarely. Why do patients and families come to the ICU to see us only in a very few times?. Personally, I love to see patients street dresses. For me it is a gift.

I think that many patients and families are not really aware of how close they have been to die. Other times, I think that the experience is so difficult for them and do not want to remember their stay with us.

But, on the other hand, I feel that if this would occurs more often, there wouldn´t be an ICU professional with a rusty vocation. Dear friends, this is also caring for the caregiver.

Jose came into the ICU with this card and a box of chocolates. “I never could thank you for what you did for her and for the family.” We did it as a team, all together at your service, because it is our job.

A job that can also be round and wonderful, but it´s difficult to apreciate it every day. We joined in a hug, and went together to see how Eva was.

At the end of the day, I got another message: a video of their two daughters thanking me for the care of their mother.

At the end of the day I thanked them. They made me feel in complete harmony with my choice in life. And that is priceless.

Happy Wednesday,
Gabi