Indexing Title: JGGuerra’s Medical Anecdotal Report (05-07)

Title: “Barely a second chance”

Date of Medical Observation: Aug, 2005

Narration:

Life IS short when you think about it…

      It was one of those benign duty nights at the emergency room. For the past few hours, at least 5 police officers have already dropped by for issuance of medical certificate for their detainees who had “No external signs of injury at the time of examination”. I was growing bored and sleepy with every passing minute.

      The monotony of my peace was broken with the arrival of a pale teenage female who was brought in on a stretcher, accompanied by 2 panic stricken female companions. In a snap, the entire surgical team was on their feet. Apparently, the girl acquired multiple stab wounds over the abdomen and anterior neck with lacerated wounds over both wrists.

      History suggested that her injuries were self inflicted. How could one possibly inflict all of that injury to oneself? If one had to hurt oneself, why so many? I had no time to contemplate as to what caused this child to do what she did. Patient was rushed for an emergency operation…

      She barely survived the surgery despite the massive blood loss. The recovery room became her home for the next 2 days, until she was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit. A mechanical ventilator assisted her in breathing. Although intubated, she was able to convey her story with the use of a paper and pen.

      It appears that she carried the illusion of prosperity in the metro when she left her hometown. This was instantly shattered upon discovering she was about to be sold into prostitution. She felt trapped, in an unknown place, with no one to turn to for help. Thinking that there was no other way of escape, death seemed a better option. So she stabbed herself.

      Sorry. That’s what she wrote…she regretted what she did that almost cost her life. She wrote that she’s grateful the second chance at life. Going home to her province was at the top of her to-do list and start a new and better life for herself and her family.

      It was apparent she had the will to live. She was fighting the battle against death and seemingly winning. But I was mistaken…

Insights (Physical, Psychosocial, Ethical) (Discovery, Stimulus, Reinforcements):

 No matter how much one wants to turn back time to undo a certain action- that would cause an important change in the present, it’s just not possible. All one can do is regret, and hope that you’ve learned your lesson and move on. Life teaches us that. Just like a trial and error experiment. 

      We have an internal locus of control over all of our actions. We have the power to predict the consequence of our actions. During the journey of life, we’re bound to encounter obstacles along the way. And we will react to these obstacles. These reactions will make us, or break us. Unfortunately for my patient, it broke her.  

      Not all mistakes can be mended. But to those that were, the lessons we discover from these obstacles are the main ingredients to our essence at living… to my humanity.