I once asked this 81- year old patient, “what’s your goal for doing physiotherapy?”

He replied, “I just want to sit in my wheelchair and feel the fresh air outside.”

This is just one of the simple wishes patients wanted, unlike ours, the things they want in life are so simple yet so difficult to do. Sometimes it crushes my heart to hear them utter these words, if only I have the power to fulfill their wishes in an instant. But, I’m not, I have to work in steps slowly and be realistic to them.

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This patient specifically used to be mobile and ambulatory despite having a stroke eight years ago, in spite of his limitations he was able to live life simply and comfortably. However, a month ago, he got sick from Covid19 and since then he has gotten weak, sitting up was hard, and so he became bedridden for a month. Covid19 really sucks, if an elderly patient survived from this deadly virus upon attack, the co-morbidty during recovery would make them still miserable and futile. 

He got admitted again after having stage four bed sore on his back from almost a month of lying down in bed. He was referred for physiotherapy too for conditioning and pulmonary rehab, and I was assigned to him. This was the time I asked him about his goal for physiotherapy. Usually, some patients would say I want to walk again, or I want to move my limbs. I was surprised that he just wanted to sit and feel the fresh air, so simple actually, but with his frail body and age, I don’t want to rush it and might compromise his health.

Mind you, despite of his limitations, I can feel his determination and perseverance, for a week I trained him for long sitting and gladly the blood pressure remained normal at ninety degrees of head elevation, thus after that week he was able to sit at the edge of the bed with his leg dangling. 

Three days with vital signs in normal levels, though still under supplemental oxygen, I can say that perhaps we could go out for a wheelchair ride and feel the fresh air outside. 

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Indeed, he was elated to finally be able to go around in his wheelchair. He spent 20 minutes outside in the hospital’s mini garden, with the intravenous attachment and an oxygen tank at the back of his wheelchair. He was seated comfortably and silent the entire time, he looked peaceful and I can sense his joy for the new activity unlocked that day.

The next day, he got a low grade fever and the treatment was deferred. I was not able to see him. The following day he was advised to have a CT scan after a suspected brain infarction. I visited him, but he was no longer conscious.

Today, when I woke up in the morning, I received a text message from the caregiver that our patient passed away at around one o’clock this morning after a recurrent stroke.

May you rest in peace, doc Ben.

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Final Message

Death is inevitable. That is a reality for all of us. And how much more for geriatric patients, the Finish Line is something so near to them. However, no matter how real and certain death can be, the fact that we will be parting from them permanently is just so painful still.

This is not my first, but I can never get used to it. Seeing them almost every day and caring for them, gives me the feeling that these patients are no longer patients. They are like a father, a friend, and for doc Ben he was like a grandfather who has been so transparent and fragile.

Disability can be something like the end of everything for some. But, for a healthcare worker like me, it should not be. We have to look forward and beyond what a patient realistically wishes to achieve.

As simple as sitting in the wheelchair and feel the fresh air outside is a joy for someone before his easy ending.

Live well. Love much.

Thanks for reading!

Photos from Pixabay (no attribution required)

All Original Content (unless specified otherwise)

03/24/2022

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