25 year-old got admitted to my ICU for COVID. Had to be bag-masked on her way to the hospital. On NIPPV, she was breathing at 60-70/min. She was awake, scared out of her wits.
I asked if she had been vaccinated. She shook her head.
“I will get it… when I’m… better.” (1)

She uttered between breaths. I nodded. I knew she meant it.

“I think you’ll need a breathing tube and a ventilator soon. Your breathing muscles can’t go on like this.” I said without as little as a twitch on my face- a conversation I’m… (2)

… very used to having by now.
She looked at me briefly, and nodded.
“Will you… be doing it?” She asked through the mask, gasping.
“Yes.” I nodded back.
She reached out with her hand and held mine. We stared into each other’s eyes for a few seconds. (3)

“I’ll do my best.” I told her.
I let go and left her room.
I had to.
Within an hour, she was intubated, sedated, on a ventilator- high PEEP, high FiO2, with an arterial line in place. Given her oliguric AKI, I think she’ll need renal replacement therapy soon. (4)

And, I fear it won’t be long before she becomes a statistic, a number in the roster of COVID victims, a gauge of the unfolding tragedy, through which we’ve striven to keep ourselves sane.
I hope I’m wrong. (End)

#COVID19 #GetVaccinatedNow #MedTwitter #PCCMTwitter

I appreciate the attention this thread generated. As of today, the patient in question remains critically ill with a very high risk of mortality.
I do request everyone to follow #SocialDistancing norms, wear #Masks, and most importantly, get #Vaccinated and #Boosted.
🙏🏻