The ARDS Foundation - Body, Mind, & Spirit

By Pastor Ian

Odds on Survival!

I have been giving thought to some of the questions voiced by our ARDS survivors. The question is often asked: “What happens when someone we have been supporting does not make it?’
Well the hard truth is that none of us “makes it,” because all of us, healthy or otherwise, have a limited ‘use by’ date, if you get my meaning. Hearing of yet another ARDS death just gutted one person who had been trying so hard to provide support and positive outlook for someone who was experiencing difficulty. I offer you, and all those who have/are experiencing feelings of loss, the following:

A young teenager was recovering from severe injuries and following several operations, made this comment: “It sucks you know, but look how many people we are training…” Yes my young friend… we are all learning and we are gaining knowledge quickly because of organizations like: The ARDS Foundation that is dedicated to promoting ARDS awareness and research. We need to go back to the very beginning of a crisis to have some understanding as to why I say: an ARDS related death is not an ending but part of a new beginning…something for which many people are working very diligently.

In the first few days of crisis when the diagnosis ‘ARDS’ is given to family, there is understandable confusion.

• What is it?”

• “Is it bad?”

• “What does it do?”

• “Will they live?”

• “How long will they be in hospital?”

• “Does it hurt?”

• “Why do they need all of these tubes and things?”

• “When will they waken up?”

• “Is it contagious?”

Now I have not listed these questions in any particular order because each and every one of them and many more will be asked by a patient’s loved ones at some point in the first 2 weeks of hospitalization. Answers will be provided in good faith by hospital staff, but I believe that we should also be seeking answers to these questions outside of the medical care team. I am not saying the answers we will find will be any different. Searching for information in the neutral environment of our home or local library is much less stressful than trying to catch two minutes with a busy physician at the end of a 12 or 14 hour day. Hopefully doctor A or B will be confirming that which we have discovered for ourselves, and certainly, through our own research, we will have placed ourselves in a position to ask intelligent questions regarding treatment options.

My point in mentioning the foregoing is to remind ourselves that we have come to this situation in ARDS diagnosis and treatment BECAUSE someone survived.

Someone survived, and at that moment, saving the lives of ARDS victims became achievable to medical teams worldwide. First one, then another and another and, as time continues, the possibilities of increasing the year on year survival rate becomes better and better. The competitiveness of human nature ensures this will happen. In our ARDS chat forum Connie asks:

“I'm sure some of you have had this first time experience of learning someone passed away from ARDS after you lended as much support as you could. If after having this happen more then once, has it taken some of that positive attitude away from your own emotions?”

I responded to Connie and would like to share a part of that response with everyone:

Sometimes we do not receive the outcome from our prayers that we planned for the person for whom we were praying. In my own case, my family wanted me to live unconditionally. I did. As people who care about others, I can only say that when we have done our best, we have done what we are called to do. That should not stop us from asking the question, "WHY?" of G-d when things do not work out as expected. Additionally, we also need to listen carefully for an answer. Often we miss answers because we are too busy talking, to hear.

Each and every day is a gift. We do not choose the time when our life will begin (that is done for us) and we do not choose when it will end, and that is just as well. We do not choose whether we get ARDS or MS or CF or any of the many other life-threatening illnesses that challenge the human race. It just happens it seems on a random basis, and any one of these can bring our life to a close sooner than would have inevitably occurred by virtue of 'wearing out.'

I have a little sign above my desk that simply says:

"BE THE BEST THAT YOU CAN BE."

If we can place our hands on our hearts and believe that we are doing this, then we are living out the mission we have each been given.

To all the “Connie’s” out there, please keep trying to help others as you have been doing. G-d knows the world needs more people like you who seek to help others without expecting anything in return. You will win some and you will think you lose some, yet even the ones you might seem to lose have made the ultimate personal gift to their being more survivors in future. They will also have gained the gift of your love through prayer. These, my friends, are very special gifts.

Yes, we still win some and we still lose some…(even one is too many) but if we keep the kind of POSITIVE attitude we are trying to project through our own life; if we continue to project LOVE through prayer; if we, the ARDS Foundation become increasingly recognized for what we can and do achieve …THEN the odds on survival will continue to improve.

Hallelujah!!