NEUROCRITICAL CARE ADVOCACY pressure, but it too didn’t work. My doctors didn’t give up on me the staff at Spaulding. They explained all of the phases that I and my body didn’t give up. The Neuro ICU physicians induced a would go through. They discovered that I could read. They had deep coma using phenobarbital which eventually helped control me walking and swimming which I always loved. A volunteer the rising pressure in my head. music therapist started working with me to sing “Amazing Grace.” Although speech was a struggle having aphasia, I was The infection affected all of my systems. My blood pressure soon singing the words to familiar hymns. My family and was dropping and I was on vasopresssors to support it. In praying friends were visiting every day, engaging me with trips to addition, I developed a blood clot in my arm and I was on blood the aquarium, singing around the piano. There were many ups thinners to prevent progression. Fluids accumulated around and downs. Our family and friends became “family” with all my lungs causing pleural effusion and the doctors removed who cared for me, just as in Worcester. it with a procedure. After a month in the ICU, an MRI of my brain was done showing strokes in some parts of my brain and My family was protecting my six year old son from seeing me. it also showed infection surrounding the front of my brain. The They were fearful how I would respond if I saw him. I still was neurosurgery team took me to the operating room and evacuated not speaking or responding consistently to yes or no questions. that infection, and they also took a biopsy of my brain which By the time Easter was there, they felt I had progressed enough showed necrosis and dead tissue. that it wouldn’t be too traumatic for my son to see me. On Easter Sunday, they brought him over, and when I saw him I cried, By that time I had spent almost a month and a half comatose reached out to him and said his first and middle name – the first in the Neuro ICU, and my body had gone through a very rough clear words I had spoken after my injury. My family feels the Lord journey. I started to improve and became more stable. The gave them an Easter miracle. Since then, began the self-awareness phenobarbital had already been discontinued. I was started that everyone was praying for. on amantadine, a medication to enhance my wakefulness, and slowly I was waking up. They placed a tracheostomy tube and Eventually, I came back home to my family on July 9, 2013. I successfully weaned me off the ventilator. I also had a stomach was back to my church and my activities. Over the past year and tube (PEG) placed for feeding and medications. By the end of my half, I have made significant recovery. I started singing again on stay in the Neuro ICU, I was able to move my arms and legs, but I the worship team choir at my church. I took up rowing on the wasn’t yet able to talk or communicate verbally. Connecticut River. I am knitting again. I go bowling regularly with my family and friends. I participate in a center for people Throughout my stay in Worcester, my family was there all along with “acquired brain injury.” I still enjoy singing “Amazing and I had a steady presence of praying friends. My room was Grace” and John Denver’s “Grandma’s Feather Bed” as much as always full of times of prayer, singing worship songs and hymns I ever have. My journey of recovery continues. I still have much that I knew. to learn anew. The Neuro ICU team had done an incredible job getting me I hope my story will inspire many of you whose loved ones have through those challenging times. In February, 2013, I was sustained a brain injury to trust in God and believe that survival transferred to Spaulding Rehabilitation Center where I spent six is possible and recovery can be achieved. I thank all of the Neuro months regaining my strength and other skills. Just as incredible ICU care providers who devote their lives to help people make as the skills of the Neuro ICU team at UMass, were the skills of such a survival and recovery a possibility. Alex Baldwin at work Kristine S. (left) 21
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