Pete in MI
New member
A Frightening Moment
Posted 2 days ago
This afternoon Brian gave us the emergency clap letting us know he needed us nearby as he suctioned his trach.
He had a look of concern on his face as he worked the suction tube in and out of the trach. He became more animated and I realized he was having trouble clearing the obstruction. Suddenly he arched his back and motioned to his trach so I hollered for Carol that we needed to change it fast.
I grabbed the emergency kit as Carol came into the room and while she prepared the replacement trach I got into position to remove the trach so that Carol could insert the fresh one.
Brian again arched his back, more violently this time as he was struggling to get air. Carol told me to go ahead and remove the trach so that Brian could breathe while she worked at getting the strap on the replacement. The trach can be left out for a few minutes in an emergency situation if needed.
When I removed the trach Brian tried to inhale but couldn't so he tried to exhale to clear the stoma (the hole in his throat where the trach goes) and showered us with a spray of blood. I screamed at Carol to call 911 and Brian grabbed his suction tube and tried to insert it into the stoma but in a panic he kept missing so I took over and still couldn't open up his airway. At this point I was in panic mode and Carol screamed at me to put the fresh trach in hoping it would allow him to breathe. And it worked.
Apparently the stoma was blocked too and when I inserted the trach it broke the clog. As Brian started breathing again I heard the sirens of the fire department and soon after an ambulance arrived. They got here very quick and stayed until they felt sure it was safe for them to leave.
Brian's home health nurse checked Brian out thoroughly and the bleeding appeared to have stopped. He evidently had caused the trachea to bleed in his strain to clear the blockage.
Whew!! Our nerves are shot but all appears well. Afterword, Brian wrote the following.
"I would have died if it wasn't for two things, when the trach was out I couldn't breathe but as soon as you put the new one in I could breathe, but my main help was from God and I didn't start having troubles breathing until I started suctioning and when the tube went in the trach I felt the clog but it was hard as a rock and then it clogged me."
Carol just handed me this note from Brian.
"Mom can you check whats goin on and if I die tonight I always want you and dad to know that I was scared cause I was passing out but I got calmer cause of you guys. I love you guys very much and I hope we can always be together til Jesus comes and whenever I'm in trouble I know that as long as I'm with you I'll be o.k.
I'll always love you. Your son Brian."
We agreed that God wasn't ready to take him home today.
And we are thankful for that.
Thanks for your prayers,
Doug, Carol and Brian
Posted 2 days ago
This afternoon Brian gave us the emergency clap letting us know he needed us nearby as he suctioned his trach.
He had a look of concern on his face as he worked the suction tube in and out of the trach. He became more animated and I realized he was having trouble clearing the obstruction. Suddenly he arched his back and motioned to his trach so I hollered for Carol that we needed to change it fast.
I grabbed the emergency kit as Carol came into the room and while she prepared the replacement trach I got into position to remove the trach so that Carol could insert the fresh one.
Brian again arched his back, more violently this time as he was struggling to get air. Carol told me to go ahead and remove the trach so that Brian could breathe while she worked at getting the strap on the replacement. The trach can be left out for a few minutes in an emergency situation if needed.
When I removed the trach Brian tried to inhale but couldn't so he tried to exhale to clear the stoma (the hole in his throat where the trach goes) and showered us with a spray of blood. I screamed at Carol to call 911 and Brian grabbed his suction tube and tried to insert it into the stoma but in a panic he kept missing so I took over and still couldn't open up his airway. At this point I was in panic mode and Carol screamed at me to put the fresh trach in hoping it would allow him to breathe. And it worked.
Apparently the stoma was blocked too and when I inserted the trach it broke the clog. As Brian started breathing again I heard the sirens of the fire department and soon after an ambulance arrived. They got here very quick and stayed until they felt sure it was safe for them to leave.
Brian's home health nurse checked Brian out thoroughly and the bleeding appeared to have stopped. He evidently had caused the trachea to bleed in his strain to clear the blockage.
Whew!! Our nerves are shot but all appears well. Afterword, Brian wrote the following.
"I would have died if it wasn't for two things, when the trach was out I couldn't breathe but as soon as you put the new one in I could breathe, but my main help was from God and I didn't start having troubles breathing until I started suctioning and when the tube went in the trach I felt the clog but it was hard as a rock and then it clogged me."
Carol just handed me this note from Brian.
"Mom can you check whats goin on and if I die tonight I always want you and dad to know that I was scared cause I was passing out but I got calmer cause of you guys. I love you guys very much and I hope we can always be together til Jesus comes and whenever I'm in trouble I know that as long as I'm with you I'll be o.k.
I'll always love you. Your son Brian."
We agreed that God wasn't ready to take him home today.
And we are thankful for that.
Thanks for your prayers,
Doug, Carol and Brian
May God Bless! Amen! 
Ma Betty