Precious Life

I titled this entry so because yesterday, I saw the worst thing I have ever seen in my life. I was speaking with a paramedic while at my nurses station when I heard the ambulance bay doors hiss open. First I heard a baby crying and then the frantic, panicked voice of a woman. I turned around and witnessed a woman, running through the doors, holding her baby. She was screaming, "Oh somebody help, help my baby!" I look at the baby in her arms and his head is misshapen and a mass of red gore. He is wailing. I pick up the telephone and page overhead, "We need a doctor in room one-STAT!" While Shana, another nurse, takes the baby in to the trauma room. In an instant the baby is surrounded by doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, and ER techs. I run in to help, I try and hold his little arm while Shana starts an IV, someone else is applying a pressure dressing to his head, trying to hold his skull together. Another nurse is starting an IV on the other arm, some one is making sure the baby is still breathing, Doctors are shouting orders, I run out to get supplies. Another nurse is trying to get information (run over? the baby was what?!) and comfort the mother and father. The baby was still screaming and there was so much blood everywhere. We helicoptered the baby to the trauma center, and as the chopper crew loaded the baby, the mother let out an anguished wail that will forever haunt my memories.

I cried a couple of times yesterday and today. I have had trouble sleeping. When I am alone my mind plays the whole thing out again and again. I came home yesterday and hugged my girls, thankful.