A patient underwent open-heart surgery. Postoperatively, the patient coded, and an intra-aortic balloon pump was placed emergently for added support. The patient ended up also needing continuous renal replacement therapy while on numerous drips. After 15 days in the bed, the patient was finally able to feel a sense of normalcy.
Kaley and Ty were able to provide the patient with this feeling. They placed the patient on a portable monitor and wheeled the patient down and out to the lake behind the hospital. Chest tubes, foley catheter, EKG, and all. This was the patient's first time being outside of the walls of the room. We all sat there quietly, with tears in our eyes. The patient was our real-life miracle.
Our entire team (nurses, surgeons, and anesthesiologists) could not believe that the patient who coded and was on life support with an ejection fraction of 5% was able to sit by the lake. Kaley and Ty were able to give this patient the opportunity to improve mental health, which was desperately needed. After 10 minutes of sitting by Lake Martha soaking up the sunshine and breathing fresh air, the patient was like new!