ICU Thanksgiving

Nov 26, 2020 6:45 AM

iamcamp

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I am thankful this year for being able to visit my Love in ICU. Non-covid related, but we're still dealing with the affects. Every neighboring hospital has banned visitors, he still gets 1, only 1. Thankful. Our family may have been exposed, so I have separated myself. Luckily, I am able to do so completely & safely. Thankful. He has been making progress every day (it's day 16). Thankful. He's young, so his body has a lot of fight in it and then some. Thankful. Our support system is transcontinental. Thankful. He can give yes/no responses & basic sign language for needs/wants. Thankful. His team of nurses & doctors are not only caring for him, but giving me self-care advice/ support as well. Thankful. Beds are full, but he has one. Recovery is long, but he's making positive baby steps daily. I don't know how we're going to survive, but countless people have reached out. I can't hug him properly, but he can squeeze my hand and I'm so very thankful for that. I can't wait for extubation & we can fight over orange vs. red jell-o again.

I share this for not to remind people to be thankful for the little things, but instead to remind you be kind. We're all dealing with a lot, and a little kindness makes the the world of difference in our ability to deal with it all.

Thank you.

And to my non-US friends, don't try to make sense of this holiday.

Edit- just want to add: online friends are real friends. Don't let anyone make you feel different. I have brothers across the world I've known for years, and never met. They're real ones keeping us smiling above & beyond. More than most family.

Cat tax.

Seriously, she won't leave me alone.

That really sucks. Hope he pulls through ok and has a speedy recovery

5 years ago | Likes 48 Dislikes 0

It'll be a long road, but he's getting the ventilator out today! Thank you

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Cats are very intuitive. They know when something is wrong. I wish your SO a speedy recovery

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Thank you. We rescued her for mental health, SO's idea. Little did we know...

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Watching a loved one on a ventilator is a terrible experience. @OP thinking of you.

5 years ago | Likes 34 Dislikes 0

This was round 2 in the last week. But he's getting it out today. Dude's a fighter. Thank you

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

unrelated to your unfortunate case, I can't believe all these easily offended about everything americans still celebrate thanksgiving..

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 2

it should be a day of mourning, for everyone, for all the crimes our ancestors did.

5 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 2

Can't you put the jello in the accordion looking part and squish it through? Might work.

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

The sudden cough/gagging from jello in the lungs stops me. But I think I have a new "ways I wish to die". Take me out with orange :)

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

The cat isn't leaving you alone because it probably knows whats going on and wants to be your rock for now. Or it's hungry :p

5 years ago | Likes 236 Dislikes 0

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I was thinking separation anxiety but then she gives me horny meows. My kitten is confused. After he gets out, she's next. Bless her heart

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Cat is always hungry... but, Cat knows something is up. People have different smells when they're stressed.

5 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

OPs face looks tasty

5 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

@OP "some natives had so much food they shared with us so we wouldnt starve to death" isnt hard to grasp TBH the fuckywucky came later

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Find a hatch somewhere on the ventilator and pour the jello in. Problem solved.

5 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I chuckled at the dark & twisted thought of what would actually happen if I did this.

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

(Hug)

5 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

:)

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I'm right there with you @OP. She's not on a ventilator, but she's in a rough place. I hope we both get to experience a holiday miracle.

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I hope things went well for you & yours this weekend. We got a a few mini-mundane-miracles. If you need an ear, I'm here

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

5 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

*hug received*

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

You posted this, and I'm thankful for the perspective.

5 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I am thankful for you

5 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Your story is sad and beautiful all at the same time, happy thanksgiving and I send my best wishes!

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Thank you!

5 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Sending you both lots of love. You sound like a wonderful partner.

5 years ago | Likes 113 Dislikes 1

I appreciate that. I'm holding on by a thread, but it's a fucking strong thread thanks to everyone that's reached out.

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Take time for yourself. If you need someone to vent to, don’t hesitate to DM me.

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Team red jello. I’m non American and saw my husband love this holiday because everyone comes together and cooks together and jokes and...

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

Try to find enough tables weeks before it. It changed significance for me, when I saw people celebrating it in person. Wish you the best!

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

It's an amazing experience when everyone celebrates together!

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

@op I hope he heals fully and swiftly

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Thank you. He has a long road of healing, but positive steps are happening every day

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

<3

5 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Hey @OP. May your partner recovery fully and quickly. Please give your kitteh ear scritches for me.

5 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

Instructions unclear, gave my man scritches but results were better than expected. :)

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Hmmm. Your man is quite lucky. Best wishes to the three of you.

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Even if I was allowed to visit, I honestly wouldn't do it - with covid cases rising. I couldn't bear the thought of potentially being >>

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

>> responsible for my loved ones to get worse, or die. Or infecting someone else in the hospital, doctors, nurses, staff, other patients.

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

As much as it would pain me to not being able to visit them, there is a very good reason for not allowing visitors.

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I fully respect this. It's a hard decision to make, either way you choose. I cut out all other human contact to do this, it's not easy

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I wish you and your partner all the best! <3

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Cat's like, umm, about the turkey...

5 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

She deserves all the turkeys

5 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

12/2318 at nearly midnight my husband's lungs failed after starting to recover from pneumonia. He almost coded during the emergency >>

5 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

Intubation and it took 2.5 hours to stabilize him in ICU. 14.5 days later they extubated and he couldn't move his arms, legs, was confused >

5 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

But he looked at me and said "I love you". He stacked firewood with our 12 y/o last night. There's hope on the other side. All my love 2 U

5 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

That's a beautiful story. Keeping our heads high <3 thank you

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

:( Sorry to hear that, best wishes from Ireland. Be sure to take good care of yourself as well.

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Orange, always orange

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Orange is superior.

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

You are giving me consolation while you need it. That's big.

5 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

<3 hope you have a good holiday/ weekend/ whatever you celebrate

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I will be Doing the same, visiting ny family member in the ICU, im thankful for that i can see him. However the nurses constantly dont wear

5 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Thier masks in the hall way and talking to eachother, they will just talk to one another then put a mask on and go into their ICU.

5 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

It really irritates me as im wearing my mask 24/7. I even slept with mine on. But my family member cannot wear a mask, endangering him.

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

*hugs* sleeping with a mask, I feel that one. Good luck to you and yours. I'll send virtual glares to your nurses -_-

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Stay strong, next year Thanksgiving will be back to normal and so will he. And the only lousy jello is hospital jello, except red. Red Rules

5 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I'm team orange, but he's team red. I'm going to bring jello to Thanksgiving next year & it'll be our little joke.

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

It's ok if you want to be wrong, I won't argue with you. Can we agree, though, that green is awful? I'm sure he'd agree with that, too.

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

#teamnotgreen I can get behind that

5 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0