Maybe Dr. House is right?

Just as I manage to sort through one situation where critical information would have made me able to provide better care, another situation cropped up.

A young lady collapsed yesterday.  While her condition was stable, it is still a very unsettling sight to see a loved one out cold.  The  boyfriend of this student has been the witness to enough trauma in his short life so seeing his girlfriend out cold was more than he could handle.  He started to experience some significant panic issues.  We worked with him, got him calmed down and then   I spoke to his mom.  His mom and I  agreed that he was too upset to finish out the day and I sent him home.

Well....a few hours later I learned that he knew way more information than he shared with myself and emergency crew.  His lies may just end up costing him way more than the loss of my trust.

I really enjoy working  with the population of a high school.  The kids are old enough to get my humor, yet they still young enough in many other ways that make them a fun group to spend my day with.  They are independent enough that I can juggle many of their issues all at once (they can bandage their own boo-boos: that alone is a huge help on busy days).  But they are also still looking to the adults to help them sort through some issues.  They have grown up issues they have to tackle with a brain that is still trying to develop.  I enjoy being available to help them through these developmental tasks.

Yesterday?
How I wish with all my heart that my young man had trusted me enough to be honest with me....I could have helped him.    Now?  I'm not sure there is much I can do to make sure he gets to remain in school.
yep...it's THAT serious.

3 calls to Emergency crew in 3 weeks...buckle up it's gonna be a LOOOOOOONG school year.

The short weeks

are indeed usually the longest ones.

Wednesday I had my first 911 call of the new school year.  A young lady came in, looking and acting very out of sorts.  I got her situated in the back to rest, while I started to collect some additional information.  No sooner had I pulled up her name on the computer, did my trusted and faithful assistant call out "Martha, she's not responding".  While I raced to assess her condition, I sent Susan to call 911.  It was a good thing that I didn't waste any time making that decision.  Before the paramedics had arrived, this girl's health took a sharp turn into the world of bizarre.    If one ever questions why we need police officers in the school, please just have them call me.    Our officer happened to come into the room right as the student changed from being unresponsive to being something straight out of a horror movie.  His quick thinking and sheer strength kept me and the student safe. Thank you, Officer P.  I owe you big time!

Today took me down another emotionally charged road.  One that I was honored to assist with, but still struck by the sadness of it all.  I was called to assess the wounds of a young girl who had admitted to her counselor that she had taken up cutting.  I walk in, and while she is now 15, all I see is the little girl I first met when she was 6.  How could that confident happy girl now be cutting and expressing ideas and plans to end her life?    Again I turned to my trusted assistant:  "can you handle the clinic, I just can't leave right now".

So for an hour, I sat and held this young girl's hand.  I hugged her mom as she shook with fear 'how is this possible".  And yes, I shared in their tears.   I cannot imagine a phone call more frightening than the one from the school psychologist asking that you come to the school as we plan to transport your child for a suicide assessment at the local hospital.  To actually know the student and her family, made it all that more frightening and humbling.

Yes indeed...you can cram in a week's worth of work in just 4 days.