Post by reynedrop on Mar 28, 2020 15:29:48 GMT -5
Thursday night, Montana lost their first person to COVID-19. He was a 77 year old man living in the most north west county of the state. This is not my retelling, but it was powerful and thought I should share it here as well. I didn't know him (we have patients from his community, I think, but I don't think I've ever met him), but reading through this, yes, I did cry.
A True Realtime COVID-19 story
Monday
A 77 year old man, living in rural Montana, was experiencing fever, headaches, confusion and some coughing.
After a call to 911, it was determined he should go the emergency room. However due to possible Covid-19 exposure, his wife could not take him. He was transported via Ambulance, over 30 miles to the hospital.
6:00 PM At the hospital he was immediately quarantined and isolated. Still suffering from some confusion and fever. The hospital ran a gauntlet of tests from brain scans to blood draws to Covid-19.
9:00 PM ll tests came back negative except the Covid test, results take at least 48 hours at this location. He was put on oxygen to keep his O2 levels up which helped with the confusion and disorientation.
Because of his isolation and the hospitals current policy of mission critical people only, he is alone at the hospital with no contact with his family. His family in the meantime is using group chat to stay in touch. Since many of them are in Washington state, they are on lockdown.
End Monday, seems like things are going in the right direction, he is feeling better.
Tuesday
Tuesday AM A quick trip to the hospital for his wife to drop of his Parkinson's meds. Chest X-rays done over night show some concern, so they are now planning on doing them a couple times per day. He was disoriented again over night, but the amazing medical staff was on top of it. Still no visitors.
5:00 PM she was able to talk to him over the phone. He seems upbeat, was hungry and still joking around. They are giving him an antibiotic, oxygen and potassium. Family members are now getting tested for Covid. Everyone goes to bed feeling the worst could be behind them.
Wednesday
9:00 AM starts terribly. He had to be restrained in bed because his confusion compelled him to try to get out of bed and pull his oxygen out, his fever was high and they cranked the oxygen. Still waiting to know if it is Covid, though pretty sure now.
Noon his confusion starts to get the better of him again, he starts wheezing. When asked if he wanted to talk to his family, he said "No". They give him meds to calm down. At this point all of the family can't help but think how scared and confused he is.
2:00 PM, the doctor, a renowned lung expert, calls, things are deteriorating fast, he will need to be on a ventilator very soon. Now family is terrified.
3:00 PM they start prepping him for the ventilator and to fly him to a bigger hospital in Kalispell, where another cardiovascular expert will continue his care.
5:30 PM they intubate him, which cause so much stress, they had to resuscitate him. Now on his way via ambulance, FDA does not allow Covid on helicopters. COVID-19 confirmed.
9:00 PM he is in Kalispell, in a medically-induced coma, in critical condition. Conversations with the doctor revolve around his DNR order. The family commiserates over chat, each drinking at least one extra drink and all head for a restless night of sleep.
Thursday
10:00 AM He is still in the coma, he has been medically paralyzed and is being treated with THE antimalarial drug. Stable, unaware and critical are the key words. Stories in local papers identify him as first case in Lincoln County and first critical case in Montana.
Noon On duty doctor calls with no real change of the situation, but shares the prognosis is not good, she said 5% chance of survival.
2:00 PM Palliative care doctor called. It is time to make the hard call. He is alive only because of the ventilator.
3:00 PM His wife made the call to the doctor that it is time.
4:30 PM Last rites were given over the phone. His wife got to say good bye and that children love him, over the phone.
4:37 PM He is gone.
A True Realtime COVID-19 story
Monday
A 77 year old man, living in rural Montana, was experiencing fever, headaches, confusion and some coughing.
After a call to 911, it was determined he should go the emergency room. However due to possible Covid-19 exposure, his wife could not take him. He was transported via Ambulance, over 30 miles to the hospital.
6:00 PM At the hospital he was immediately quarantined and isolated. Still suffering from some confusion and fever. The hospital ran a gauntlet of tests from brain scans to blood draws to Covid-19.
9:00 PM ll tests came back negative except the Covid test, results take at least 48 hours at this location. He was put on oxygen to keep his O2 levels up which helped with the confusion and disorientation.
Because of his isolation and the hospitals current policy of mission critical people only, he is alone at the hospital with no contact with his family. His family in the meantime is using group chat to stay in touch. Since many of them are in Washington state, they are on lockdown.
End Monday, seems like things are going in the right direction, he is feeling better.
Tuesday
Tuesday AM A quick trip to the hospital for his wife to drop of his Parkinson's meds. Chest X-rays done over night show some concern, so they are now planning on doing them a couple times per day. He was disoriented again over night, but the amazing medical staff was on top of it. Still no visitors.
5:00 PM she was able to talk to him over the phone. He seems upbeat, was hungry and still joking around. They are giving him an antibiotic, oxygen and potassium. Family members are now getting tested for Covid. Everyone goes to bed feeling the worst could be behind them.
Wednesday
9:00 AM starts terribly. He had to be restrained in bed because his confusion compelled him to try to get out of bed and pull his oxygen out, his fever was high and they cranked the oxygen. Still waiting to know if it is Covid, though pretty sure now.
Noon his confusion starts to get the better of him again, he starts wheezing. When asked if he wanted to talk to his family, he said "No". They give him meds to calm down. At this point all of the family can't help but think how scared and confused he is.
2:00 PM, the doctor, a renowned lung expert, calls, things are deteriorating fast, he will need to be on a ventilator very soon. Now family is terrified.
3:00 PM they start prepping him for the ventilator and to fly him to a bigger hospital in Kalispell, where another cardiovascular expert will continue his care.
5:30 PM they intubate him, which cause so much stress, they had to resuscitate him. Now on his way via ambulance, FDA does not allow Covid on helicopters. COVID-19 confirmed.
9:00 PM he is in Kalispell, in a medically-induced coma, in critical condition. Conversations with the doctor revolve around his DNR order. The family commiserates over chat, each drinking at least one extra drink and all head for a restless night of sleep.
Thursday
10:00 AM He is still in the coma, he has been medically paralyzed and is being treated with THE antimalarial drug. Stable, unaware and critical are the key words. Stories in local papers identify him as first case in Lincoln County and first critical case in Montana.
Noon On duty doctor calls with no real change of the situation, but shares the prognosis is not good, she said 5% chance of survival.
2:00 PM Palliative care doctor called. It is time to make the hard call. He is alive only because of the ventilator.
3:00 PM His wife made the call to the doctor that it is time.
4:30 PM Last rites were given over the phone. His wife got to say good bye and that children love him, over the phone.
4:37 PM He is gone.