Welcome to REMIX Week! This week you will hear about "Episode One" again, but from the perspective of a guest writer. Which is.....(drumroll please)...... Lindsay Payer! One of our board members who was there for it all!
Before she gets started, I do need to give a small disclaimer (darn those disclaimers!). Because Lindsay is a nurse and bound by HIPPA, some of this information is usually not allowed to be shared. However, I'm here to say that I gave Lindsay consent to write about all of these events! So don't any of you go hunting her down.
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It was a Wednesday night- during an Extension board
meeting. The conference room was full of
board members, as well as a concerned constituent. During a confrontational part of the meeting,
we heard a noise like someone taking in a large deep breath. We turned towards
the sound, and saw Clarissa stiffening and her color changing. With three healthcare providers in the room,
two nurses and a veterinarian, we sprung into action. We recognized what was occurring- a
seizure. We lowered her to the floor, placed
her on her side, and ordered someone to begin timing it. We activated 9-1-1 and
tried to remain calm.
Not only did we share the relationship of board member and
employee, Clarissa and I were professional partners, colleagues, and friends. But I knew very little about her health
history. I barely knew her accurate
age! I started to panic.
“What medication was she taking? What medical conditions did
she have? Ihe only health history I knew of was when she fainted during blood work. During the fainting spell she had some seizure-like tremors, which aren’t too uncommon during a vasovagal response. "Was this similar? Did she want me to call her mom? Did
she want me to get Matt? Did I have his number?” All of these thoughts were going through my
head and maybe even coming out of my mouth as I tried to remain calm, yet get
her the help she needed.
I recall going towards the Health Department down the hall,
to grab our first aid kit. But nothing
in there could help this situation, so I turned back. We continued to time the seizure, and then
the time after the seizure (postictal phase).
During this time, her brain is recovering from the seize. The seizure lasted 3 minutes and she remained unconscious for 7 or so minutes afterward. Then for 20 minutes more-she was alert, but unable to speak to
us (postictal phase). Her face showed confusion and fear. She can't talk. "Does she realize what just happened?" I wonder. She's communicating with her eyes, however. She's nodding yes and no and I can tell when she doesn't know how to respond.
While Clarissa is waking up, I recall someone being outside for EMT’s and someone calling Matt. I think the rest of the group was clearing way for the stretcher. I think we moved others outside in case she needed some privacy for potential bladder issues or vomit (loss of bladder and vomit are common with grand mal seizures). I think some of them were uncomfortable and didn’t know what to do. Melissa stayed with her and cared for her physically.
The EMT’s had arrived and took over her care. I took her hand and tried to use her finger to break into her phone. I just wanted to call her mom. I called Matt several times, had left a message, sent a text. I was able activate Siri but kept getting so frustrated! I kept telling it to call mom and it would call someone else time and time again. I tried “call home,” “Call dad.” Nothing worked. I felt so helpless.
Someone else on the board had gotten Matt to answer. So glad he arrived in time to comfort her in that ambulance. I hated the thought of her going in an ambulance by herself and not being able to speak or understand what just happened.
While Clarissa is waking up, I recall someone being outside for EMT’s and someone calling Matt. I think the rest of the group was clearing way for the stretcher. I think we moved others outside in case she needed some privacy for potential bladder issues or vomit (loss of bladder and vomit are common with grand mal seizures). I think some of them were uncomfortable and didn’t know what to do. Melissa stayed with her and cared for her physically.
The EMT’s had arrived and took over her care. I took her hand and tried to use her finger to break into her phone. I just wanted to call her mom. I called Matt several times, had left a message, sent a text. I was able activate Siri but kept getting so frustrated! I kept telling it to call mom and it would call someone else time and time again. I tried “call home,” “Call dad.” Nothing worked. I felt so helpless.
Someone else on the board had gotten Matt to answer. So glad he arrived in time to comfort her in that ambulance. I hated the thought of her going in an ambulance by herself and not being able to speak or understand what just happened.
Obviously, we adjourned the meeting at that time and went
back to our normal evening activities.
All shaken up a bit by the events of the evening- worried about our
employee, colleague, partner and friend.
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Make sure you give Lindsay Payer a high five next time you see her and tell her thanks for writing! Melissa Hall and Dr. Mike Thorp also deserve shoutouts as they helped take care of me that night. I told Mike about this post tonight and he goes "yeah! You practically fell over in my lap!" (when I started seizing) haha.
"A day in extension is also a lot like a box of chocolates- 'You never know what you're gonna get."
-Clarissa Sents
-Clarissa Sents
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