Cath Lab Digest - March 2008 - (Page 75)

MARCH 2008 POETRY 75 NtenseV Care Tammy Sommer, RT Cardiac Cath Lab Sherman Health, Elgin, Illinois My left arm hurts – I don’t feel well Think I better sit down for a spell Starting to sweat – I know something is wrong Upon my chest feels like King Kong I grabbed the phone to dial 9-1-1 Fumbling with the numbers But I couldn’t dial…not one! I hear the sirens in the back of my head I must be dreaming Am I still in my bed? In and out of consciousness – the lights are starting to dim Me winning this battle – my chances are slim The pain is incredible – I don’t know what to do But all I can hear is “call a code blue” Slipping deeper into the chasm in the floor Don’t think I can take much more The road I’m on – so bright and neat Unaware it was a one-way street The stairway to heaven – indeed this must be Looking backwards all I can see is ME Whoa! Wait!—this can’t be true I’m too young to die – God, please let me pull through Intense pain rips through my chest “Continue CPR” is what I hear next We’re going to lose him, his pressure’s too low We’ve got to open this artery and restore the blood flow 100% occluded – we’ve got to work fast Or his agonal breaths will be his last Echoes all around me – to the darkness I succumb The pain is not pleasure, but I’m comfortably numb Seeing all the faces of loved ones I have lost Rang a bell inside my head You must fight back – at all cost Don’t stop helping me – I’ve got my body in sight I was told to come back It’s not my time to go to the light “Doctor, he’s back and his vitals are stable.” “A job well done, team “Nobody dies on my table!” Somewhat awake and very afraid Knowing that my impending death had just been delayed “The worst part is over – but now you must rest. “You’re in the hospital and your heart’s not the best.” “A few more days of rest, “Then home to where you belong. “I trust that smoking habit of yours soon will be gone.” Thank you, doctor To you I owe a lot Better care of my heart I’ll take It’s the only one I’ve got. The author can be contacted at tammy.sommer@gmail.com “You’ve got to hear this!” Got a good story or funny one-liner to tell? Would you like to see yourself in the (Cath Lab Digest) funny pages? Mark R. Purpura, cath lab professional and cartoonist, wants to place your funny moment at work into one of his infamous cath lab cartoons. Submit your story, one-liner or just a funny situation in the cath lab to mark@smackpappy.net. http://www.cdpmedical.com http://www.commwell.us

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Cath Lab Digest - March 2008

Cath Lab Digest - March 2008 Are You Being Paid Fair Market Value in 2008? A Cardiac Cath Lab Professionals Survey by Cath Lab Digest and the Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals Saint Joseph’s Hospital Invasive Imaging Tools for Optimizing Coronary Stent Deployment Contents Clinical Editor’s Corner A Workflow Revolution in Cath Lab Reporting Advantages of a New Digital Lab at Baystate Medical Center Cardiac Computed Tomography: What Does it Mean for the Cath Lab? The Latest in Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Cellular Cardiomyoplasty and Cardiac Regeneration Intravascular Ultrasound in the Cath Lab: A Powerful — and Underutilized — Tool to Improve Patient Outcomes The Stentplus™ Patient Success Program Cardiac Cath Lab Clutter — or, Spring into Action! Groin Bleeds and Other Hemorrhagic Complications of Cardiac Catheterization: A List of Relevant Issues Ask the Clinical Instructor: A Q&A Column for Those New to the Cath Lab What Do You Think? Experience with a New Guidewire: The Terumo Runthrough NS The Ostial Pro™ Stent Positioning System: Perfecting Aorto-Ostial Stent Placement Precious Minutes The Ten-Minute Interview with…Mark Bowles, BSN, CCRN Vascular Care in the Cath Lab: Planning a Smooth Transition Cath Laughs CMS 2008 OPPS Final Rule Review An Extensive Set of Review Courses for the CCI Basic Science, Non-Invasive Echocardiography and Vascular, and ARDMS Ultrasound Exams Meetings Calendar CEU Education Center Clinical & Industry News STEMI Interventions Classifieds Advertisers Index

Cath Lab Digest - March 2008

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