I’m a nurse currently caring for a woman the same age as me (36). She suffered a hemorrhagic stroke during childbirth that has left her a quadriplegic, feeding tube and non-verbal. She’s been this way for 17 years and currently on my floor due to a stage 4 pressure injury (completely open, exposed to the bone) on her coccyx due to poor care. Her grandmother is her primary care giver, both her parents died early (unsure why) and one of her kids (17 yo) currently lives with her as well. Her grandmother has this asinine system of communication where she names off letters of the alphabet and as soon as she looks up (according to her this is yes while looking down is no) she automatically rambles off stuff that begins with that letter. She’s also very forceful when adjusting her head and neck. Her grandmother is pretty feeble herself and although there are home care givers that come by, they some how missed this open stage 4 ulcer open on her buttocks? From what could be seen, two weeks ago they staged it as a stage 2 and healing but now it’s a stage 4 and clearly not. Grandma was even putting powders and creams inside the wound so lots of education lacking. There’s just no way in hell I’d sacrifice myself for offspring just to be a vegetable the rest of my life. And so, add this to the list of reasons to remain child free, the bodily complications that come from pregnancy aren’t worth it.