Archive for the ‘life lessons’ Category

You know how sometimes we experience foreboding in a movie? We sense something’s about to happen. Our pulse races. We grab the arm of the person next to us whether we know him or not.

But it’s a misdirect. Foreshadowing. The bad thing doesn’t happen. PHEW!

Relieved, we sit back and enjoy the movie until later when we’re totally caught off guard, WHAM! Something really-really-really awful happens.

Writing on the Wall

That foreshadowing actually happened to me. And I wasn’t in a movie (if only…)

Two months ago I was at one of Niles’ catered parties when the Chef choked on a piece of steak.  Other Guests and I gasped as a Server Heimliched him.  It wasn’t working. Time was Ticking. Stunned, we were afraid to interfere with the Server who seemed to know what to do. We were paralyzed over what felt like an eternity.

I yelled, “SOMEONE CALL 911!”

The Chef bent over the kitchen sink and tried Heimlich himself. No luck. He dropped to the floor, doubled over, and gagged as he tried to dislodge the obstruction in his airway. At last he coughed up the meat while the Caller reported to 911 on the phone.

We all realized the magnitude of what had almost happened on our watch. The Chef was shaken, but able to leave. It was a good ending… on that night.

Deja Vu

Fast forward to last Saturday night when I was on my Volunteer shift. Paramedics rushed in a 60-year old fit, otherwise healthy Man who’d choked on piece of steak. He’d been at the steak restaurant with his wife… the steak restaurant they’d go to every Saturday night. The Man had tried to get the piece of steak up himself and even left the table to go to the restroom so he wouldn’t make a scene. He returned and collapsed on the table. No one even knew to call 911, until too much time had passed..

When someone did, Paramedics arrived at the scene 8 minutes later, but the Man had been without oxygen to his brain for 15 minutes. Now at the hospital as they tried to revive the Man, the Wife still held out hope… until Dr. Adams broke the devastating news to her.

I watched through the curtain as Dr. Adams with tears in his eyes, tried to console her.  Together they waited until the two 20-something kids arrived to say “good-bye” to their Dad before pulling the plug. This family had planned to celebrate Father’s Day the next day. The Son had planned a hike with his Dad. The Daughter had been looking forward to her Dad walking her down the aisle at her wedding in October…

Ever since, I’ve been telling everyone about this story (leaving out names and personal details of course for Patient Confidentiality). Who knew that the odds of one dying from choking on food is around 1 in 2,659. That’s scary!

It’s probably a good time for each of us to learn or re-learn the Heimlich Maneuver.

What else can we do? Well, we can remember to cut up and chew our food carefully. And when we see someone choking, we must act without waiting. Heimlich and  call 911, STAT!  The time we save may be the difference between life and death.

Be careful out there… xo/Evie

I know, I know – it seems like I’ve been MIA, but honestly this is the first moment I’ve had to myself. See, my dear Niles, hairdresser to the stars and my rock ever since my Mom died, had a scary fall and I’ve been “Nurse Evie” ever since.

Coming to the rescue for family…

Thankfully Niles lives in my building, and after a party of too much flying from who knows what, he slipped and landed splat on his marble bathroom floor, Speedy Evie and two cute paramedics flew to his rescue. As we sped away from the condo in the ambulance, they gave him Fentanyl (yikes!) and told me he’d broken his hip. I asked how they knew and apparently one leg looked longer than the other, plus some bone was sticking out the wrong way. Poor Niles!

I was so relieved they were willing to drive to my hospital, because volunteering in the ER does have its perks. Everyone in the department hopped-to when they saw me. They understood Niles is “family” me.

Dr. A was thankfully on duty when we arrived around midnight and I’m sure he expedited things because in less than an hour and a half, Niles was admitted upstairs and more comfortable in the hospital bed. Dr. A also called a badass ortho surgeon he knew (Dr. Snow) who came to Niles’ room first thing the next morning. Dr. Snow patiently answered our questions about the hip fracture, surgery and recovery and slotted him into her schedule for later that night.

Waiting while Niles was suffering was so stressful. I can empathize with family members who must play the waiting game. You have to wait for tests, for doctor input, for surgery, to be discharged.  It’s really hard. Star Volunteer Mira, was so supportive. She knew just what to say through all of the hours of not-knowing and brought me Kreation organic smoothies to keep me going.

The surgery went well though and as long as Niles didn’t move much he was okay as long as he got Oxy every four hours. I was a little freaked out  about Oxy… I mean, I saw DOPESICK…) Niles was feeling good about it though. He even joked about what he called his Elephantiasis due to swelling. Meanwhile they kept pumping IV fluids into him, making him even more bloated.

Getting out of the hospital is harder than getting in…

He was ready to be done with it all but whenever the Physical Therapist would stop by to access him daily, he’d get light-headed and his blood pressure would drop so they’d have to stop.

After a few days, I ran down to the ER and asked Nurse Chan, if he had any suggestions because at this rate it looked like Niles would never get out.

“Stop with the Oxy because it makes blood pressure go Ziiiiip! Try Tylenol for PT”

Luckily that and a quick blood transfusion (because Niles was anemic) did the trick. I was able to take Niles home as long as he wouldn’t be alone.  A cute PT guy came 5 days a week and I practiced with Niles in between.

Niles has been a superstar. He aced the walker, graduated to a cane and is now pretty much cane-free except when it comes to big stairways.

The whole experience makes me a appreciate Niles even more. I’m so glad I could help him in his time of need. Niles has always been there for me. I’m grateful that this time I could be there for him.

Focusing on the good in a beyond-tumultuous year, my heart is soooo touched by unexpected kindness displayed during the Buffalo Blizzard. When humans step up in ways that save lives, the gift is priceless. Surely there are more stories out there about unlikely heroes, but here are three stories highlighted in the news —

HEROES OF KINDNESS —

On Christmas Eve Alexander and Andrea Campagna became “accidental innkeepers” to nine South Korean tourists whose van was stuck in a ditch in the early days of the blizzard. In true Christmas spirit, The Campagnas sheltered worried tourists, resulting in an unexpected slumber party, a unique bond and a yummy Korean Christmas dinner that none of them will ever forget.

photo by Sweet Buffalo Facebook

Sha’Kyra Aughtry was home during the blizzard when she heard screams early Christmas Eve. Out the window she could see a man calling for help. After Aughtry’s boyfriend carried the freezing, developmentally disabled man, Joe White (64) inside their home. Although Aughtry was unable to get Emergency help, the fast-thinker used a blow dryer to melt ice off Joe White’s red blistered hands. She used  a grass cutter to remove White’s rings while Aughtry live-streamed her calls for help and emotional concerns for his fading condition. Refusing to let him die, she cared for him — encouraging him to keep the faith —  when thankfully one of her Facebook followers got through with a car. They took Joe White to the hospital and saved his life. Aughtry’s compassion and feisty personality led to a Merry Christmas for Joe White and his very-worried family.

photo by CBS News.com

QUICK OUT-OF-THE-BOX THINKING…

Jay Withey Jr, a 27-year-old Kenmore mechanic saved 10-24  lives after breaking into Pine Hill Primary Center school because his  truck  got stuck and he was trying to stay alive.  Before that he’d knocked on the door of 15 homes where the residents were too scared to let a stranger in. So Withey broke into the school, discovered shelter, and became Super Snowman searching for and saving others stuck in ditches. Before he left, he wrote a note to the school:

“To Whomever It May Concern: I’m terribly sorry about breaking the school window and for breaking in the kitchen. Got stuck at 8 p.m. Friday and slept in my truck with two strangers. Just trying not to die. There were 7 elderly people also stuck and out of fuel. I had to do it to save everyone and get them shelter and food and a bathroom. Merry Christmas. Jay.

Hope these stories warm your heart as much as they did mine and that we’ll all come to the rescue of strangers-in-need when the occasion arises. (I’m really into heroes, wherever and whenever they pop up.)  xx/Evie