Webmaster saves a life!

Webmaster saves a life!

The network of Patient Advocates working together around the country can sometimes culminate into the miracle of saving a life. The story below reveals the amazing dramatic series of events that led to a life being saved -- a life that was left to die in a heartless hospital 1100 miles away form the Webmaster -- because of "costs". A life totally unknown to the Webmaster until one pleading email one week ago (March 30, 2001.)


The Webmaster received an email from a Colorado Patient Advocate, who received an email from a desperate woman in California looking for someone to save the life of her dying husband. This is the email exchange:


Subj: Fwd:  Help me, Help me please, there letting my husband die...
Date: 3/30/2001 8:54:05 PM Pacific Standard Time
From:PULS****
To:MedicalErrors

Elizabeth,

Do you have any suggestions?  This lady is really in a bad way now..  Thanks for any advice you can give her.  Jeni
-----------------
Forwarded Message:
Subj: Help me, Help me, please, there letting my husband die
Date:3/30/2001 5:44:20 PM
From:ri*****a@yahoo.com
To:puls**@aol.com

I ARRIVE AT GARDEN GROVE HOSPITAL IN CALIF ON GARDEN GROVE BLVD THIS MORNIGN & Find ATROCITY..........                  
MY HUSBAND WAS MOVED FROM THE I O U UNIT INTENSIVE CARE OBSERVATION UNIT TO THE 7TH FLOOR. UPON MY ARRIVAL I SAY THE C N A NURSE WHITH HIS TRY A SITTING AT HIS BED SIDE
, UNTOUCHED, I ASKED HER WHY, AND SHE SAID OH I WAS GOING
ON MY BREAK FIRST AND THEN FEED HIM. I IMMEDIATELY WENT DOWN TO THE EXECTIVE ADMISTRATOR AND GOT HER UP THERE TO VERIFY THIS. THE C N A DIDNT EVEN KNOW HOW TO PUT HIS TEETH IN UPPER PLATE AND SHE DIDNT WIPE OFF HIS
MOUTH FIRST. SHE HAD HEM SITTING IN A LEANED OVER POSITION IN THE BED, ON A MAN THAT IS ASPIRATING.

HE ATE ALL HIS SOFT FOODS , SO IT CAN BE DONE, ITS JUST THEY'
ARE LAZY AND DONT CARE. THEY ARE PHILLIPINOS AND MEXICANS AND DONT SPEAK VERY GOOD ENGLISH AT ALL.

THEN WHILE THE ADMISTRATOR WAS THERE THE C N A SAID WE FOUND
THIS ON HIS FOOT THIS MORNING, AND HIS LEFT FOOT IS COVERED IN
GANGREEN IT IS BLACK NO CIRCULATION DEAD, NO PULSE ON BOTH FEET.

NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME HE IS GOING TO LOOSE HIS FOOT. THEY
CALLED A VASCULAR SURGEON STAT ON HIM JUST NOW. HE IS TO WEAK
TO UNDERGO A SURGERY SO I DONT KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO HIM.

THE ADMISTRATOR IS GOING TO SEARCH TO SEE WHO IGNORED MY HUSBAND'S FOOT BY COVERING IT WITH ONE SOCK, NOT REPORTING IT TO THE DOCTOR. DID THE E R ROOOM KNOW THIS, OR DID THIS TAKE PLACE IN THE I O U UNIT BEFORE GOING UPSTAIRS TO THE 7TH FLOOR?

ANYWAYS I INTEND TO HIRE A LAWYER TO SUE THE NURSING HOME AND HOSPITAL. HE IS SO SICK THEY HAVE CALLED IN RESPT. EVERY 6 HOURS AS HIS
ORGANS ARE SHUTTING DOWN.


THE NUEOROLOGIST SAID TO ME ON THE PHONE "WHY NOT LET A MAN GO HE'S DONE HIS TIME AND ITS OVER, THERES NOTHING I CAN DO" -- BUT I SAID YOU CAN GIVE ME A DIAGNOSIS AND DO A LUMBAR PUNCTURE AND AN M R I... HE SAID "WHAT FOR? -- ITS A WASTE OF MONEY!" PLEASE SENATORS, AND MEDIA I NEED YOUR HELP RIGHT NOW! -- PLEASE! IF MY HUSBAND DIES , PLEASE REPORT ON THIS AND MAKE CONGRESS DO SOMETHING! (GET) BILLS IN PLACE.

THE LEAD DOC SAID MEDICARE GAVE ORDERS "TO LET THE PATIENT DIE UNLESS THERE IS MORE TO BE DONE..." HE TOLD ME THIS PERSONALLY.

I TOLD HIM TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO SAVE HIM AND HE SAID HE "WOULD GET IN TROUBLE WITH MEDICARE." HE HAS SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE FROM
COUNTY OF ORANGE WHERE HE IS RETIRED. PLEASE HELLLLLP PLEASE HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
SOMEBODY INTERVENE AND HELP ME NOW BEFORE IT DONE AND OVER WITH.
                                       PEACE AND LOVE,
                                          RITA****
                                    HUSBAND , EVERETT F. H*****

PLEASE COME FORWARD -- MY HOME PHONE NUMBER IS 714 *** ****


Subj: Re: Help me,,, Help me,,, please, there letting my husband die...
Date: 3/30/2001 11:40:17 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: MedicalErrors
To: PUL***


Jeni:

I have called the woman and 2 hospitals for her to help her arrange a life flight for her husband to the 2 hospitals nearest to her that have emergency hyperbaric medicine chambers. I used to be a diver  AND southern cal. has many of those chambers for that reason. They use them now for many medical emergencies, including carbon monoxide suicide attempts and gangrenous tissue.  No one had suggested that HBO therapy to her. It is the only thing that can save the leg, and the life now, without surgery. I hope it works. She'll call me back in the AM for update.


I also have forwarded the mail to contacts for referrals on the other things she needs.


This just might be my best save yet. Thanks. She was grateful to you as well, becuase I called her within 45 minutes of the mail she sent to you. Quite a deal we have going. When this is all done and a good outcome (hopeful fingers crossed) we will add this testimonials to our sites (so the public can know we are here to help)


If you get any more of these complicated medical issues, (a hard working medical expert) so let me try, if I can't figure it out... I'll say so right away.


She is very desperate and from what she said the hospital said to her... (a taped version would be extraordinary to have.) Could be QUITE amazing if what she said is true... Lets all hope for the best for htis man. Will update you in the AM....

Elizabeth


Subj: Re: Help me, Help me, please, there letting my husband die!
Date: 4/5/2001 11:46:27 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: PULS****
To: MedicalErrors

Dear Elizabeth,

I just now opened this email, somehow I missed it the first time, I had no idea that you did so much for that woman. My goodness, you saved the man's life!  he was moved to some hyperbearic chamber. A million thanks. We have a little girl here involved with PULSE who is having fund raisers to help with that therapy. Her insurer will not pay for it. You are truly amazing. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your trouble for this Rita and her husband. Looking forward to meeting you.   

Jeni



IT IS NOT FOR THE GOVERNMENT OR A DISPASSIONATE DOCTOR TO DECIDE WHEN A MAN SHOULD DIE. THE MAN IN THE STORY ABOVE WANTED TO LIVE, HIS WIFE WANTED TO GIVE HIM EVERY CHANCE. THIS MAN IS ALIVE TODAY BECAUSE SOMEONE LISTENED. A STRANGER, LISTENED AND ACTED. A STRANGER WHO ALSO WAS "SOMEONE" WHO WAS ALSO TOSSED ASIDE BY DOCTORS IN HER DARKEST HOURS. NOW WE "STRANGERS" WILL ALL STICK TOGETHER AND MAKE MAGIC HAPPEN ONCE IN A WHILE! IF SOMEONE NEEDS HELP, WE WILL HELP.