Going “ Zero to Caregiver ”– Advance Directives make a Difference
By TAMERA WHITLOW , LVN , USAF
Our second day was eventful at the hospital . Things started to move rapidly . The final straw was when they came to ask for consent for evasive procedures and informed it would be safer if they moved us to ICU so we could have a nurse one on one . His heart is frailer and tired . The lack of sleep , pain and the unknown are starting to show on his face . As I watch I know he is tired , and I will become his fight to live . In his eyes I can see fright , worry , regret and exhaustion . He is begging to just close his eyes and go to sleep until it is over , so he pulls the cover over his head . Today is our wedding anniversary of 24 years . As I reminisce about our marriage it was always this way , I took care of the battles and conflict and he was all jokes and pranks .
Our door reminds me of the doors you find at hotels that go around and around and around . Consent forms , doctors for each specialty , nurses , social workers , surgeon team , heart team , LVAD team . His heart can no longer push fluids to his organs , so now we take the next door in keeping him alive . Feeling stunned , stressed and overwhelmed by it all , it is informed consent time once again –– to hear the risk that each procedure brings and its saving qualities . I have insisted he be awake and hear about each procedure and sign his own consent forms . He is definitely not excited at being an informed patient and wants me to do all the paperwork . He just does not want to hear it . He now needs an Intra-Aortic Balloon device ; it will be his heart in a machine . Our bridge to keep him alive until he is cleared to have heart surgery . And we sign and wait .
I had no idea how many decisions we would have to make . Knowing what is important makes such a difference on you emotionally and supporting the caregiver is just as critical as patient care .
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