Thread by @AlishaAkhani

A week ago, we had a 20 yr old woman in the ICU, who was 5 months pregnant. She was a high risk patient. We tried saving both the mother & child. Obstetricians, intensivists, anesthetists all were extensively discussing her line of treatment.
(1)

One day, while on rounds, her O2 saturation started dropping. We increased the O2 flow, calmed her, asked her to take deep breaths. She became stable only to deteriorate a few hours later.
With no option left, we had to sedate her & put her on mechanical ventilation.
(2)

There she was, a 20 year old, who was soon going to be a mother, lying on the bed with tubes in her mouth and IV lines running from her hands. We waited for her to get better in the following days, but ultimately had to deliver the baby through a C section.
(3)

5 month old babies don't survive. But there's still hope, we can save the mother.
I completed my shift at 8 am went back to my room. When I came back in the night at 8 pm, I discovered that she didn't make it.
12 hours ago, I saw her. Sent her blood samples.
(4)

And now this young lady, who's only 2 years younger than me didn't survive. I was devastated. Numb. Blank.
I didn't know who to tell this to. Everyone around me was busy with their work!
There was a new patient on her cot. Some 40 year old gentleman.
(5)

I closed my eyes
took a deep breath
and resumed my duty. For him and other patients needed me to do my job.
(6)

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