A week ago my 96 y/o mom had complete heart block, called paramedics, rushed to ER and told needs a pacemaker. Dr performed the surgery and when I finally got to see her, she was trying to get out of bed ( still needed to keep leg straight) and her right leg was ice cold. I found this and alerted staff who quickly & frantically tried to get ankle pulse. After consult, they started heparin. By next morning it had not worked. She could not move her leg. Another procedure to try to suck any clots did not work. At this time they started talking about amputation!!!! This was not going to happen & she had no circulation in her leg now. At this time they are talking about hospice and a facility. Because she is not referred for any rehab, this is an out of pocket expense and because of the level of care she needs it’s expensive. She has some money and her home but is in serious need of repair so probably wouldn’t get much. I am heartbroken over her situation & feel like there is some negligence here on hospitals part and was told and incident report was opened about the situation. Also on her second night in hospital she tried to get out of bed and fell, hit her head (CT scan was negative) cut her knee and has a black eye now too. What can I do with her? Any ideas? She already gets VA survivor benefits and I can apply for maybe more but this is hard and will exhaust all her money if I can even find a place. Palliative consult said a couple of weeks to a couple of months with this dying leg. So sad about her situation 😢😢🙏🏻🙏🏻
May The Lord give you grieving mercies and strength for this new season.
Hopefully, the attorney can stop anyone else from being injured by the incompetent doctor that did this, my prayers are with you on this.
I hope you find peace in the happy memories. The pain of her last month will fade -- trust me.
Are you/is she considering hospice? This should not take a few months for consult at all. It would be declining further threatment, recognition that the end of life is coming, and that comfort is now the goal. Medicare does cover hospice care.
I am thankful for her that you have not encouraged her to have amputation. At her age the complications, the recovery, would be very unlikely, and could extend only her suffering in all likelihood.
I am so sorry.
I am shocked that she wasn't put right on blood thinners, the obvious high risk and normal protocol would say that's the action taken.
Good luck holding whomever failed accountable.
Has a vascular specialist seen your mom or is it an idiot hospitalist trying to do this? I would demand a vascular specialist if that hasn't already happened.
your poor mother.
it does sound like negligence on the part of the hospital.
you said your mother has weeks/months left. :( :(
any chance she can spend the rest of her life at home? die at home? what are her wishes? you know her best. what would she want.
warm home, lots of love, her favorite food, your love…
hugs. can she communicate?i’m sure she feels all your love.
huge hugs to you!!
bundle of joy