Why did I survive?

[cazmcw]

I cant remember anything about being in ICU. It was like I was in a twilight world when I came out of my coma. I remember being nursed gently. When I went to a general ward I was shocked to hear about how sick I was. I wondered why I lived when I wasn't expected to. It has been 4 months since I've been home and feel more at peace . Live life and take it one day at a time.

[angelrock]

I don't know why I survived either, but we did and as a nurse said of me each time she saw me, she has seen a miracle happen!!!! Wonders will never cease.

[Luckyone]

It's one of the questions we all ask, when we were so close to death and your family were told you are unlikely to survive, but somehow the lucky ones of us survive, in my case it was the determinations of the doctors to never give up even when my left lung was completely solid along with 2/3 of my right lung due to ARDS, the consultant telling my wife as long as he had some lung to work with he wouldn't give up. Fortunately for me I have no memory of most of the first 2 months of the 3 months I spent in ICU, I was in what can only be described as a terrifying virtual world and it's only thanks to my wife and daughter for keeping a diary of that missing time that I know how critically ill I was, it will be 7 years ago on 18th December and I'm so grateful for my second chance of life as I would have never seen my now 4 year old grandson and my 3 week old identical twin granddaughters which certainly makes life worth living.

[jojokarak]

You survive because the doctors do the best they can to help us if there wasn't any hope they would inform our loved ones.

[stevet11753]

I expect a lot of people on here were told their survival was a miracle, me included. As to why we survived, many reasons: the skill and care of doctors and nurses, family support; but also, I think, ourselves. Deep within us there is a spirit that has the will to live and fight for survival.

[ICUsteps-Peter Partner ICUsteps]

Before my accident, like many of us, I'd spent my life worrying about things that were of no real consequence and getting worked up about thing that just didn't matter. For me, surviving critical illness felt like a gift and gave me a new perspective on everything. As time goes on, you can get caught up in the mundane problems of daily life but I try to remember to take time to appreciate my second chance and make the most of opportunity I've been given.

The end of your post sums it up nicely about feeling more at peace, living life and taking it one day at a time.

[cazmcw in reply to ICUsteps-Peter]

I believe I have worked it out. I owe my life to ICU staff, my family and I am a fighter. thankyou for replying.

[Sepsur]

The nurses in ICU said that it was the force of my personality that pulled me through finally, they threw everything at me, including the kitchen sink, to give me a fighting chance. I rewarded their extraordinary tenacity by pulling through - live for today - no-one gets out of here alive 🤣🤣 - happy Halloween 🎃

[65solent]

4 years i was in an induced coma due to pneumonia and swine flu. I survived due to the paramedics and ambulance teams, and the expertise of the icu team at the hospital and the power of prayer. The chaplains prayed at my door-i was in isolation unit -and over my bed. They were all so amazing. I am so thankful for the prayers and the skills of the professional's that cared for me. My daughter kept a diary so l would understand everything that went on. I had to have tracheotomy and I remained on life support for 13 days. I have never felt quite so euphoric as I recovered and discovered that I had beat that nasty little germ that had, had such an impact on me. dreams, hallucinations, delusions were horrendous and I can remember so much, it still feels true that I was sold by the hospital where my children had dumped me! I made desperate Dan pies in southern America, met queen Victoria were some of the bearable memories but being tied up, buried in sand, sold to human trafficking, assaulted, raped, given drugs, were terrifying. I still find it hard to believe my room was not a cocktail bar that I was not in, eastenders wearing a pink pvc mini skirt and I had no head. i have had a few flashbacks which leave me feeling afraid, emotional and confused. But hey I survived and I am thankful always. Why did I survive, the consultant said I was a fighter, he knew that when I came into icu. My bodyhad he said ran 5 marathons but he knew I was a fighter.The nurses said I was a miracle I love that it makes me smile. I gave so much to thank them and my family for. Humbling experience.