That One Call...

Every first responder has that one call, or that one day that shakes them sooner or later, something that even the strongest of people are thrown through a loop from. Earlier this week my significant other had one of these days... in 6 hours she had three patients die on her, a two year old went into cardiac arrest and they were unable to get a pulse back, and then later in the day she responded to a car wreck where the mother of two children was pronounced on scene, and she worked a 26 day old baby all the way to the hospital that was in full cardiac arrest as well. Seeing her later, i knew she was shook up, what's amazing though to me, even though i do the same thing when i have a rough day of calls, is that she was able to take a deep breath, look at me, and then tell me she hadn't lost her faith in what she does. Her perspective is still the same as it was, that if she hadn't been there they would have passed away anyway, and at least she did all she could to try and bring them back. This is something many people don't understand about how we manage to get through such a stressful situation, we believe in what we are doing, we know that we cannot save everyone but at least we can do our best for every single person we treat.
I quoted to her the movie Serenity today, when she promised me she hadn't lost faith in herself and that there is a reason these things happen...(she is not religious).
The quote was "It does not matter what you believe in, as long as you believe in SOMETHING" I try to never forget this as to do what we do i think you need to have faith in something, anything, to get through such difficult times.
And i have to give her credit, she is one of the strongest people i know, it's good to have someone you trust to have your back as a first responder...

-Burnout

Song of the Week: Pompeii by Bastille