As part of my job as an anesthesiologist, I get called to truly horrific airway events. Sometimes they are down in the emergency department after a bad car accident, drowning, or burn. Others are in ICU’s. Sometimes they are even in hallways or bathrooms where people have stopped breathing or collapsed from cardiac arrest. It’s part of the job.
Recently, I was called to an airway in an ICU in what became a surreal experience. Upon arrival, I was informed that the patient who needed to be intubated had a non-survivable injury, but that they were completely alert, awake, and “with it.” Oh, and there were about 20 to 25 friends and family present.
After watching some of their interactions, it became clear that something spectacular was happening. The patient was attending their own funeral. They were cognizant enough to have conversations with these people that clearly loved this patient. They shared memories and times together. And so much more.
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