Complications.
Stella's surgery had been done for four weeks now. At first she had a hard time processing that Will left, but last week she finally found the courage to make another vlog.
She was still in the hospital as she needed monitoring. Transplants are always risky in the first few months.
10:57 pm:
It was a quit Thursday night. Barb was making her final round to check up on a new cf patient who had been brought in.
10:58 pm:
A small alert popped up on the screen of the nurse sitting behind the desk. Room 307.
Not being too worried that something was wrong the nurse walked over to 307 and knocked on the door. Thinking to herself that Stella probably was asleep she opened the door gently.
As she opened the door she instantly noticed something was wrong. Stella was gasping for air. The nurse flipped the emergency switch alerting all personal that there was a serious complication.
Instantly doctors and nurses flooded the room.
10:59 pm:
A code blue gets announced. Due to respiratory failure, Stella's heart has stopped working.
The cart was brought in and chest compressions were started. At first glance nothing.
Pull back for shock.
An electric shock was administered but the monitor was still showing nothing.
Pull back for shock.
A second shock was administered and small beeping sounds filled the room. The heart was beating again.
11:02 pm:
Barb now had made her way to room 307. She was about to leave the building as she got the message. Hurrying back upstairs.
Not long after Barb entered the room, Stella's hearth gave out again. A long and loud beep filling the whole floor.
Chest compressions where again started and another shock was administered but it was to no avail.
11:05 pm
At 11:05:47 pm treatment was halted. And Stella Grant was pronounced dead by the head physician of the cf care unit.
Barb just stood there. Staring at a girl whom she knew for all her life. Gone in a matter of minutes.
The body got covered up and placed onto a stretcher. Tears started springing in the eyes of nurses. The second time in just over a month they lost a patient.
Everything was over so quick. This was supposed to be a new chance. Another 5 years. Cut short for unknown reasons.
After a couple of minutes nurses from the general care staff came over to transport the body to the morgue.
Attending nurses and doctors of the cf unit stood in silence. Watching the always cheery girl who brightened up everyone's day being taken away.
Barb just stood there. Watching the same spot where Stella was laying a mere 15 minutes ago. Peacefully asleep. And now,
she collected her thoughts and went over to the desk.
She quick dialed a phone number. One of 4.
they haven't had the courage to remove poe's number and will also was still in there.
There was a reason these phone numbers where on quick dial. They would only be used once.
The phone rang for a solid 5 to 10 seconds when a sleepy voice picked up.
Good evening this is Tom Grant. Who is calling at this late hour.
Mister Grant, It is Barb. I'm calling to inform you that...
She couldn't say it. But she had to.
I'm calling to inform you that Stella has unexpectedly passed away in her sleep.
Tears again filled up Barb's eyes as she heard the heartbreaking sobs and screams from her parents.
We are on our way. A shaky voice announced before hanging up the phone.
It was only going to get harder from here on out.
What should I tell them when they ask if she suffered.
I can't tell them how she was desperately trying to catch a breath. How she was suffocating and how her heart gave out.
But I had to, Barb thought by herself. They had every right to know.
Nurses started cleaning up the room of the late teenager. When they took all the equipment out of the code blue it looked like she could walk in any second. Smiling as she visited the nicu unit.
We all knew she wouldn't.
twenty-four hours later
Twenty-four hours had already passed after Stella had tragically passed away.
It had been one of the worst days in years. A pregnant Julie had to go back home after hearing the tragic news of Stella 's passing.
There hung an icy cloud above the cf unit. everybody understanably felt down. we lost 2 of our longest patients so quickly
An e-mail popped up with Stella's final report of her passing. After doing the necessary tests the cause of death was listed. It was heartbreaking to read.
Her new lungs... they rejected her. It caused a respiratory failure. That then led to her cardiac arrest.
According to the ME there was nothing we could have done.
A week has now passed.
Select staff from the cf unit had gotten days of to attend Stella's funeral.
The service was beautiful but heart wrenching. we payed our respects and gave our condolances to her parents.
We returned a day later after shift carrying 2 bouquets of flowers. One for Stella and one for Poe.
Barb felt so powerless fighting a disease that seemed to win all the time, taking even the most cheerful and brilliant patients.
Both Stella and Poe passed so unexpectedly. The last thing Barb did was get mad at Poe for the party they threw for Will.
In the hospital there was a small memorial service as well. The nurses had decided to fund a plaque to remember some of the bravest patients they ever had.
At the entrance of the cf unit shone a new gold plaque dedicated to Stella, Poe and Will. A small text was engraved under their names.
'even though they never got to experience real life, they always made the best out of what they got. Life was not fair to them but they never backed down and invented ways to accomplish the most they could' forever in our hearts.
A newfound will inside Barb also made her fight stronger again. To make other cf patients believe in themselves and that there is always a brighter future ahead.
"You know what someone gets for loving me? They get to pay for all my care and then they get to watch me die."
"It's my sickness, my problem"
Poe Ramirez.
"everyone in this world is breathing borrowed air"
"If I'm going to die, I'd like to live first"
Will Newmann.
"I'm tired of living without really living"
"I want to be fearless and free. Its just life, Will. It'll be over before we know it"
"...but its even hard to fall in love. So after all that cf has stolen from me, from us, I don't mind stealing a little something back"
Stella Grant.