PATIENCE - DETERMANITON - PURPOSE
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He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
2nd Corinthians Chapter 1 Verse 4 |
Sepsis/ARDS Presentations and Advocate
Testimonials
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Hello Mr. Raikes,
I just wanted to tell you how much both you and your wife touched my heart with the presentation you gave at the ADS conference in Boston. Your story was so compelling and you are so brave and strong to be able and willing to share it. Please know that you and your wife had a great impact on me and I will share your story and take it with me wherever I go in teaching others about caring for patients. Thank you again! Sincerely, Jeanne Jeanne Kessler, MSN, RN-BC CESI Educator Center for Education, Simulation and Innovation (CESI) |
My name is Christine, and I’m an ICU nurse who attended the American Delirium Society workshop a couple of weeks ago.
First, I wanted to say THANK YOU for sharing your story. The things you taught me about your experience have changed the way I practice. I truly appreciate your willingness to talk about what you went through, it is an incredibly brave thing to do. Hartford Hospital 560 Hudson Street Hartford, CT 06102 office: 860-972-0741 Fax: 860-545-2030 e-mail: Jeanne.kessler@hhchealth.org |
Mr. Raikes,
I just watched your story on the Sepsis Alliance site. Your strength and determination touched my heart deeply. I am the Sepsis Coordinator at a moderate sized hospital in Akron, Ohio (Summa Health). As a former Hospitalist Nurse Practitioner and RN in the ICU before that, I cared for many patients like you, but never saw the devastation after discharge that being so ill caused. Thank you for sharing your story. The pandemic has shut down a lot of my projects due to understaffing and staff burnout/exhaustion, but you've inspired me to start ASAP on the patient education program I've been wanting to develop. When you said information on post sepsis syndrome would've helped, that was all I needed to hear. Keep inspiring and filling that purpose that God kept you here with us for. You embody the verse on your site from 2Cor 1:4! Thank you for hearing and answering God's call. May you and your wife be blessed for many years to come on earth, and after:)
Michelle Evans, MSN, RN, APRN-CNP
Sepsis Program Coordinator
Summa Health
525 E. Market Street | Akron, OH 44304
p 330-375-3372
evansmi@summahealth.org
I just watched your story on the Sepsis Alliance site. Your strength and determination touched my heart deeply. I am the Sepsis Coordinator at a moderate sized hospital in Akron, Ohio (Summa Health). As a former Hospitalist Nurse Practitioner and RN in the ICU before that, I cared for many patients like you, but never saw the devastation after discharge that being so ill caused. Thank you for sharing your story. The pandemic has shut down a lot of my projects due to understaffing and staff burnout/exhaustion, but you've inspired me to start ASAP on the patient education program I've been wanting to develop. When you said information on post sepsis syndrome would've helped, that was all I needed to hear. Keep inspiring and filling that purpose that God kept you here with us for. You embody the verse on your site from 2Cor 1:4! Thank you for hearing and answering God's call. May you and your wife be blessed for many years to come on earth, and after:)
Michelle Evans, MSN, RN, APRN-CNP
Sepsis Program Coordinator
Summa Health
525 E. Market Street | Akron, OH 44304
p 330-375-3372
evansmi@summahealth.org
Upcoming Events
- St Elizabeth Hospital, Ft Thomas, KY 41075
- https://www.stelizabeth.com
Bio
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I was born and raised on a farm in central Kentucky where I fed cattle in the winter and was in the tobacco field in the summer. For my hobbies I fished in the summer and hunted just about anything all year long. I started working at a tool and die company 6 months before I graduated from high school in 1981. I went on to take several select college courses and received a certificate as a journeyperson tool and die maker. I worked as a tool and die maker for 19 years until a local company offered me a process engineering position. With this new position I excelled and ultimately became a tooling engineer traveling the world purchasing tooling, equipment and preparing the new work cell for production.
It was in the spring of 2015 that the doctors determined I needed a partial knee replacement after a couple failed knee scopes. On May 26th, 2015 I went to the hospital early that morning not knowing getting on the elevator would be my last memory for a while. My wife told me that after surgery I |
walked the hallway, ate a hamburger, texted my brother among other things. The doctor told me and my wife the only way I would live is to be put on a ventilator. Even though I don’t remember my wife said I looked at her and said “Sis (wife) what should I do?” I was told I signed the form with my wife not knowing that I would never remember what I had done. I was put on a ventilator and rushed from Good Sam Hospital to the University of Kentucky Hospital. The doctors believed I had an allergic reaction to the anesthesia that caused my lungs to bleed and from there I went septic. I went into septic shock where it started shutting down my organs including kidneys and lungs. My right lung collapsed and needed a chest tube and introduced me to ARDS. Due to bleeding lungs the doctors inserted a IVC filter to prevent blood clots going to my heart and lungs. The doctors determined that a tracheostomy would be needed and probably was a turning point for my recovery. When I started waking up some 20 days later, I had lost all muscle mass and could not move or talk. I stayed in ICU until June 30, 2015 with so many memories that I never want to forget good and bad.
After becoming stable enough, I was transferred to 2 other rehabilitation hospitals for trach removal and overall strength. Years later I still have lingering problems from this traumatic experience such as PTSD, Anxiety, Muscle Weakness, Neuropathy, and mental issues. I also have a scarred lung from the ARDS along with other issues in breathing. I couldn't have made this journey without my family and especially my wife along with the doctors (especially Dr. Ashley Montgomery) and staff at the University of Kentucky.
After becoming stable enough, I was transferred to 2 other rehabilitation hospitals for trach removal and overall strength. Years later I still have lingering problems from this traumatic experience such as PTSD, Anxiety, Muscle Weakness, Neuropathy, and mental issues. I also have a scarred lung from the ARDS along with other issues in breathing. I couldn't have made this journey without my family and especially my wife along with the doctors (especially Dr. Ashley Montgomery) and staff at the University of Kentucky.
On a Mission
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We All Want To Be Heard
Even if We Cant Speak Darrell Raikes 140 Eagles Next Drive Lebanon, Ky 40033 270-402-1981 raikesbranch@gmail.com |
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