It was around 3 years back I guess, when I first met Saishna in medical ICU. It was my placement during my Bachelor in Nursing Sciences. When I first saw her, I didn’t realize she was just a teen girl. I could not guess her age because of her height and somehow her body structure. Also, it was hard for me to pronounce her name as well :D. I may not remember every details but I do remember the corner bed where she used to be. The first moment when I interacted with her was as a student nurse. The nurses in that medical ICU seemed to know her well and her ability. But for me, she was like other patients. I was a new person in that ward or family.
I had placement in that ward for short period. During my placement, things started changing, I really got emotionally attached with her and found her very friendly, intelligent with good memory and a person with a strong family support. Even with the worst disease in her life, she was the luckiest too. During that time, she had tracheostomy which made her unable to communicate through speech but she used to manage to communicate. She found new ways to communicate such as click sound of tongue to call, lip reading to express her needs. However, it was a bit hard for me to understand initially but eventually I was successful in reading and understanding her needs. That was my achievement. No doubts, her mother and family were experts in those communications. Her facial expressions were very prominent too that made us understand her likes and dislikes, requests, her emotions, frustrations, anger, sadness and happiness. I remember her doctor, he used to tell her story in doctors round and asked questions from previous stories. She used to answer correctly. At that moment, I can see her happiness. It didn’t look like a serious doctor round in medical ICU. Her doctor was very considerate of her age and her condition too. I was impressed with her relationship with doctors, nurses, ward assistants, my collage mates and her family. She was and is the most popular and the cutest patient of our life (.
My experience with her didn’t end in that duration of my placement. After several months or year, I met her outside the hospital returning from physio. She was in wheel chair with glasses on. I didn’t recognize her at first. I saw her mother that made me realize, the girl in the wheelchair was Saishna. She was totally different. That day, when I saw her and she held my hand, literally made my day. I still enjoy that memory with her. For her, it might be some ordinary day, but for me, it was a successful moment in my life. This really encourage me and make me love my profession more and more. I know she is far better now. And I wish her all the best with her life from every corner of my heart. She is way stronger than she thinks.
Especially for people with Guillain Barre Syndrome, I don’t want to go through all the medical terminologies and physiology as we all can find this information. I know that they are more knowledgeable in this sector than I am as they are living with it. Honestly, I don’t know how it feels but I can imagine how it feels to be trapped inside our own body. It is very hard to stay positive all the time but never give up. Always remember, ‘You are a survivor and a warrior, not a victim.’ Everyone gets knocked down in different ways, but get up and fight with it.
Good news, I am still in contact with Saishna through socials media today. Thanks to these social media, we get to touch and know these successful story. Lastly, I am very happy and blessed to have met with you Saishna. You are a gifted child. Lots of love and blessings.
-Rinu Shrestha
(Masters in public in health(Advanced) at Torrens University Australia.
9/10 Francis St, Dee Why, NSW, Australia
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