ICU Nurse's Heartbreaking Memoir: Losing a Son to Asthma

In a deeply personal and poignant narrative, Angela, a U.S.-based ICU nurse and mother, shares the devastating loss of her firstborn son, JP III, to a severe asthma attack in December 2020. The story, which serves as a preview of her debut memoir "Forever 32," recounts the tragic sequence of events that began with an urgent phone call while she was working in the hospital, revealing her son's critical condition. As a medical professional, Angela immediately recognized the grim prognosis—brain injury indicators like excessive urine production—and describes the heart-wrenching experience of watching her son slip away despite medical efforts, including multiple rounds of CPR. The narrative weaves through her grief, the difficult decision regarding organ donation, and her eventual return to work on Christmas Day, just weeks after the loss, highlighting the unique and unbearable pain of losing a child.

The key players in this emotional account are Angela, the grieving mother and healthcare professional; her son, JP III, whose sudden death forms the core of the story; and her supportive family, including her husband, daughter, and other relatives who became her anchors. The core message transcends a simple tragedy, offering raw insights into the grieving process, the search for meaning in loss, and the importance of choosing healing pathways. Angela emphasizes avoiding destructive escapes and leaning on loved ones, while candidly discussing the hollow comfort of well-meaning phrases and the solitary nature of profound grief. The company or product involved is Angela's forthcoming book, "Forever 32," presented as both a tribute to her son and a resource for others experiencing loss, implicitly serving as a guiding light through shared pain.

Drawing on her dual perspective as a nurse and a bereaved parent, Angela reflects on universal themes of mortality, resilience, and faith. She references biblical passages like Romans 2:11 and Jeremiah 29:11, and even the movie "The Flash," to illustrate the inevitability of certain outcomes and the futility of blame. The narrative's impact is amplified by its healthcare context, as Angela's medical knowledge made her acutely aware of her son's declining condition, adding a layer of professional torment to personal agony. Her story underscores the message to cherish every moment and "give people their flowers while they are still alive," making it a powerful, human-centered piece that connects deeply with anyone who has faced loss or fears it.