My most memorable patient

I have worked as a certified hemodialysis technologist/technician (CHT) for about 12 years, and have been in the medical field for almost 20. I've worked with many extraordinary patients over the years, but I have one particular patient who was very special to me—my dad.

Dad went into the hospital to have an aneurysm on his aorta removed. It had been there for years, and we all knew it. It was a triple “A” surgery (abdominal aortic aneurysm) that ended up with a fourth aneurysm found in his groin area that exploded throughout his left leg. To make a long story short, Dad lost circulation in his left leg which then had to be removed below the knee. Then what I thought was my worst nightmare occurred—his kidneys shut down. We had to make another traumatic decision, to start dialysis right away.

I helped set up the machine, and while stringing it I took measures and precautions beyond those I typically do with patients to ensure sterilization because, after all, this was my dad. The catheter placement wasn't the best, but I helped get the dialysis going and, as I sat there watching him, I knew Dad wouldn't want to live like that. But, I took every measure I could to make him comfortable, telling myself it was just an acute setting and that he would bounce back.

During this time that my father was ill, the company I work for had offered me a biomedical position—a job that would take me away from direct patient care—which I was considering. My dad and I were always close, and he was always my hero. He always listened to me and helped me make decisions about different things in my life, and I always went to him for advice. Sitting there with my dad in the hospital, I started to think about all of the patients in my dialysis facility—how they feel, all they go through as dialysis patients, and all of the tough decisions they have to make.

As I had in the past, I took this time talked to my dad about the opportunity, even though I wasn't sure he couldn't hear me as he lay there in the hospital bed. I told him about the offer and, even though he could not talk because of his ventilator, he raised his arm, put his hand on mine, and shook his head “no.” I said, “Dad, do you want me to stay with the patients?” And he nodded his head “yes.”.

This was a very moving moment for me, and I immediately decided to decline my company's offer and stay with patient care. When you set up patients every day, it's easy to become mechanical and just go through the motions. But I now look at every patient as if he or she is my dad, and am careful to string a machine and hook up every patient with the same care and precision as if my dad was in that chair.

My father passed away three years ago. I loved him very much, and I miss him terribly, but he helped me make a decision I've never been sorry for. Thank you, Dad. You were my favorite patient. Love, your son, John.