At the CIBS Center and the Vanderbilt ICU Recovery Center, we strive to raise awareness of PICS among medical providers, mental health practitioners, and the public, as there are countless ICU survivors who spend months, and even years, seeking answers to why they are permanently changed after critical illness.
As part of our efforts, we have organized a simple walk of any number of miles (or even less than a mile, if that is the distance that is most appropriate) to help remember that recovery is a journey, to celebrate the act of survivorship, to push against the limitations that PICS often brings, and to raise awareness of this complicated syndrome.
Individuals can walk anywhere in the U.S., either on their own or with loved ones. It is our desire that every ICU survivor living with PICS knows they are not alone and that there is hope and support for their journey.
Of course! Post-intensive Care Syndrome in Pediatrics (PICS-p) impacts countless children and families worldwide every year. Let's fight together to spread the word and celebrate survivorship after critical illness for our young patients. If you walk for pediatrics, you can log your distance after your walk at the PICS-p form.
Many survivors experience striking impairments in all three areas, meaning individuals living with PICS, along with their families, often experience notable challenges in multiple facets of their lives. These problems are as varied as the survivors themselves, but some common themes include: