Author: jacobi

All throughout my shift, the crackling of the overhead paging system would terrorize me. The instant I began to feel at ease, the signal of alarm would disrupt the promise of a peaceful, quiet night and was replaced by the echoing of these dreaded words: “Rapid Response Team!” or “CAC!”   Without delay, my body reacted the only way it knew how. The symphony was inaugurated by a brief gasp of astonishment, followed by the pounding of my exploding heart … Continue reading “And the silence came – Sofia Arango Mendoza”

The last moments of breath before the ventilator breathes for him are precious This could be the last goodbye, the last facetime, the last I love you Right before he wants to call his family It could be the last time he speaks with them He hangs up and looks at us anxiously “I don’t want to die” he says We tell him we are here for him and we will take care of him The ET tube is supposed … Continue reading “The Last Breath – Naomi Friedman”

Most of you don’t know what I’m talking about but some of you do. You hear that cry, that shriek, that uncontrollable sobbing from the widow. The patient is actively dying. We are doing compressions.  We are giving medications. There is still no pulse.  Compressions have stopped.  The patient is dead. It is up to us to call the family. We have to do it for the family and for ourselves It is up to us and no one else … Continue reading “The Cry of the Widow – Naomi Friedman”

As I saw another patient lose his battle A man aged like my father Whose life ended too soon, and too abruptly I also saw my spirit break   As I walked out of his room And despair invaded me The world turned silent While the voices in my head grew louder