Tristan Martin
April 2014
Tristan
Martin
,
RN, BSN
Surgical Trauma ICU
Charleston Area Medical Center
Charleston
,
WV
United States

 

 

 

A 27 year old male presented to the STICU with a devastating brain injury. Despite our efforts to save this young man, he progressed to brain death. The family was given the terrible news by the clinical staff and the patient was determined to be an organ donor. The gentleman has several children that wished to see him prior to the transfer to the operating room. Standard procedure is no children under 14 are allowed in STICU. The daughter present was 8 years old and very much wanted to see her father. Tristan facilitated the involvement of the Child Life Therapist in order to ensure the child was mature enough to handle what she was going to experience. The family was very appreciative of this extra effort. Casts of the patient's hands were also made, painted and then presented to the family. The patient donated his organs and his family was grateful for all the attention and care provided throughout his stay in STICU.