May 2013
Marty
Monahan
,
RN
MICU
University of Colorado Hospital
Aurora
,
CO
United States
It was an emotional shift, combining both grief and resignation and ultimately acceptance and peace. Mr. G was a 62 yr old man with a dedicated and loving wife and large family. Mr. G was dying. As his body began to shut down, his family struggled with honoring his wish not to continue to live "with tubes sticking out" of him. Our chaplain and the nursing staff continued to provide emotional and spiritual support throughout this time. During conversations with the patient's wife, she revealed that in spite of being together for more than 40 years and raising 8 children, they had never been formally married. Given the grave circumstances they were now in, she expressed a strong desire to be wed. With only a short time to prepare, John Brill and Jana Palaia, the primary RN and new graduate RN caring for the Mr. G, sprang into action.
The patient was straightened up and polished to a shine (as best as possible,that is). John searched around and was able to obtain a vase of flowers. Deidra McCulloch, another MICU RN, found some ribbon with which she fashioned the flowers into a bouquet before joining the ceremony. Marty Monahan, the MICU charge nurse, contacted the Burn ICU and requested the use of their digital camera. With family and staff present and the chaplain officiating, the wedding ceremony commenced. A statement about marriage was read, followed by scripture and finally the marriage vows. As the patient had a breathing tube in place, his son stepped in to recite the vows. Pictures were taken of the newlywed's hands to avoid the inclusion of the wide array of medical devices surrounding them. Finally, the official marriage certificate was completed and presented by the chaplain, pictures included.
As the wife gazed down lovingly on her sick husband, no one could doubt the power of the moment or lasting impact (on all of us) that this experience would have. It is times like these that remind us all what powerful and important work we do. A short time later, Mr. G was removed from life support and quickly passed peacefully away, surrounded by his loving "new" wife and family.
The patient was straightened up and polished to a shine (as best as possible,that is). John searched around and was able to obtain a vase of flowers. Deidra McCulloch, another MICU RN, found some ribbon with which she fashioned the flowers into a bouquet before joining the ceremony. Marty Monahan, the MICU charge nurse, contacted the Burn ICU and requested the use of their digital camera. With family and staff present and the chaplain officiating, the wedding ceremony commenced. A statement about marriage was read, followed by scripture and finally the marriage vows. As the patient had a breathing tube in place, his son stepped in to recite the vows. Pictures were taken of the newlywed's hands to avoid the inclusion of the wide array of medical devices surrounding them. Finally, the official marriage certificate was completed and presented by the chaplain, pictures included.
As the wife gazed down lovingly on her sick husband, no one could doubt the power of the moment or lasting impact (on all of us) that this experience would have. It is times like these that remind us all what powerful and important work we do. A short time later, Mr. G was removed from life support and quickly passed peacefully away, surrounded by his loving "new" wife and family.