Working at the VA has its ups and downs, but the patients there are quite endearing.
We had an elderly veteran admitted to the ICU for severe pneumonia. Although he needed an oxygen mask to breathe, had IVs and lines everywhere, and couldn't even drink water on his own, he insisted he needed to go home today to take care of his wife who recently had a stroke. We told him, "Hold on sir, you need to get well and out of the ICU yourself first." He said grudgingly, "Fine, but I'll go home tomorrow then!"
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Well, tomorrow came and went and he wasn't strong enough either. Trying to keep his spirits up, we said "Well, maybe Friday IF you have help at home." Friday rolled around, but after calling family members, we learned there wasn't anyone available to take of him 24/7.
Though he stubbornly insisted on going home for his wife, our team told him firmly he had to stay the weekend. Incredibly dejected, he slumped in his bed and refused to respond to any more questions. My heart really felt for him.
My attending tried to cheer him up. "Do you want stat McDonald's? Stat fried chicken? Stat pizza?" (He was a Palliative Care patient - we don't typically offer *ahem* fast food to hospital patients, hehe). No response. But when she offered brownies, which I had baked for the team, he perked up just a little bit.
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"Alright," my attending ordered, "stat brownies and milk for Mr. R!" When a doctor orders stat anything (stat blood draw! Stat CT scan!) it means absolutely right now. Being good medical students, my partner and I grabbed a few of my brownies and a little milk carton with a straw stat.
I told Mr. R I baked these brownies with Nestle Cocoa and hoped he liked it. He took a bite and said, "It's very, very good." He proceeded to eat/inhale them so quickly we had to hold them back, lest he choke (I'm not responsible for any aspirations if these brownies are too tasty).
When he said thank you, I told him, "No, thank you." It's an honor knowing these brownies are good enough for a devoted Vietnam veteran. And I learned a good little trick from my attending that day. From Inspired Taste.
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Ingredients
10 tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (natural or Dutch-process)
1/4 rounded teaspoon Kosher salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs, cold
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
We had an elderly veteran admitted to the ICU for severe pneumonia. Although he needed an oxygen mask to breathe, had IVs and lines everywhere, and couldn't even drink water on his own, he insisted he needed to go home today to take care of his wife who recently had a stroke. We told him, "Hold on sir, you need to get well and out of the ICU yourself first." He said grudgingly, "Fine, but I'll go home tomorrow then!"
Though he stubbornly insisted on going home for his wife, our team told him firmly he had to stay the weekend. Incredibly dejected, he slumped in his bed and refused to respond to any more questions. My heart really felt for him.
My attending tried to cheer him up. "Do you want stat McDonald's? Stat fried chicken? Stat pizza?" (He was a Palliative Care patient - we don't typically offer *ahem* fast food to hospital patients, hehe). No response. But when she offered brownies, which I had baked for the team, he perked up just a little bit.
I told Mr. R I baked these brownies with Nestle Cocoa and hoped he liked it. He took a bite and said, "It's very, very good." He proceeded to eat/inhale them so quickly we had to hold them back, lest he choke (I'm not responsible for any aspirations if these brownies are too tasty).
When he said thank you, I told him, "No, thank you." It's an honor knowing these brownies are good enough for a devoted Vietnam veteran. And I learned a good little trick from my attending that day. From Inspired Taste.
10 tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (natural or Dutch-process)
1/4 rounded teaspoon Kosher salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs, cold
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
Heat water in a medium saucepan (1 to 2 inches deep) until barely simmering. Combine butter, sugar, cocoa powder and the salt in a medium heat-safe bowl over simmering water. Stir mixture until the butter has melted. Remove the bowl from heat and set aside for 3 to 5 minutes until it is only warm, not hot.
Add the flour and stir until just incorporated with the wooden spoon or spatula (The batter will be quite thick). Spread evenly in lined pan.
Bake 25-35 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted into the center and come out almost clean (you want it to be a little moist with batter). Cool completely then remove from pan. For the cleanest lines when cutting, place into freezer for 20 to 30 minutes to firm up.
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