Our jobs are to diagnose, treat, manage patients with a wide range of illnesses

We also find and take ‘hope’ wherever we can get; for everyone involved.

What about when hope rots?

1/7

#medtwitter #pathtwitter

Pt. had been in the hospital for 40+ days. Ups and downs; mostly downs.

The ‘usual’ Covid19 extended stay. Family had been updated daily for weeks.

I took on this pt. for the first time. I did ICU rounds and learned about them. Everyone sounded positive!

2/7

Their positivity created my positivity. I thought to myself “it’s great i am finally getting another patient who may recover fully!”. I filled up with hope.

I had a long phone call with the family. Yes the pt. was still on a ventilator but all her numbers were improving!

3/7

Her vitals more stable. Everything looking better. Diminishing O2 needs. I told them she is still day by day; but there is hope of daily improvements!

They asked me what happens with continued improvement and I told them weaning off the ventilator would be the goal...

4/7

But i told them it’s still day by day and we still have to watch closely. Still the phone call ended positively; all 3 of us on the phone full of hope!

Was off the next day & returned the day after.

Walked into office; jumped onto EMR to see how my favourite new pt. was

5/7

DECEASED

it read on the top of the chart..

I felt that cold chill we get. I just got it even writing this

The cold, nasty chill when hope rots.

Massive stroke.

Didn’t see it coming. My hope couldn’t fight it. Their hope couldn’t fight it.

6/7

My hopes were a quart of strawberries that looked great on the outside; with one moldy & rotten one in the middle.

Wanted to throw the whole quart away!

But others still need hope. Not all rotten.

We can’t lose the hope we have in hope.
I can’t lose my hope in hope.

7/7

We do