Going off-Zazzle-topic, so I can update something I first told about in June 2016

[MarilynR]

That is when our mother "died". We are actually taking our first official days off since then. No writing and probably no Zazzling although the new train set is tempting. Well, at the moment,Elizabeth is actually working on recreating a 1,500-word article that an editor lost. She usually has them saved but she was working in the website text box, was recovering from something, didn't save it, but didn't expect an editor to mess with it. We decided to take today, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday off because our mother always made a point of saying "I don't work on Good Friday. " and we have ourselves to a safe enough place where we can. The question is what to do if we aren't working?

Anyhow, back to the update. On May 31, 2016, our 96-year-old mother was admitted to the hospital for low potassium and slight dehydration. After ten days, of what I now call torture, she died on June 9th. They told us she probably would live to be 100 and they kept saying they would be releasing her. She was looking forward to the 2016 Olympics, closely following the 2016 Presidential election, could use the computer, and made a significant contribution to our Lump of Coal design in MarBeth Holidays.

We were in shock when we left the hospital and there was some ugly badgering by an ICU nurse and female ICU doctor to get us to change her to no code. They also suddenly said she had a serious kidney issue. We only wanted to talk to each other privately, but we actually talked to her. When we related our conversation with her to the nurse, she clearly acknowledged that she realized our mother was able to communicate her wishes because the nurse gave her a shot of morphine to relieve her discomfort, but took our saying that we would probably say no code.

This hospital is part of a three hospital  chain here.  One patient investigated was at the hospital she was in. The others were all at one of the others. One of my best friends from high school, who I have been in contact with until our mother's death worked there. A little over two years ago, when it came out that there was an issue with a doctor at this hospital chain and 40 other employees were eventually let go and some eventually lost their licenses, we did what many people did and requested her records. We had and still have the day-by-day log and documentation that we created after her death. I made an intern cry when I told him he killed our mother. We actually requested her records twice and then decided that we wouldn't get what we really wanted so we let it go.

Dr Husel's trial began on Valentine's Day which would have been our mother's 102nd birthday. We have avoided any coverage even though we want to know if any of the employees were involved in her care The jury is finally deliberating and I am hoping that they find him guilty today because Saturday would be our parents 81st anniversary.

Thank you for humoring me.

[DesertSky]

I remember your original post, and I'm so sorry for all that you and your sister have endured regarding your mom's passing. I understand your grief, having lost seven loved ones in less than two years (none Covid related), most recently my dad, in late February. Loss is so difficult and making peace with it is never easy. I hope that justice is served in your situation, and regardless of the outcome, I wish you both healing and peace. Take care. 

[ElizabethR]

Thank you and I am sorry about your father. When we were young, I remember a period of multiple deaths on both my father's and mother's side of the family. I remember the local funeral director explaining about periods of generational deaths. He did a good job helping then and later in dealing with missing others as they passed away. However, although people deal with unexpected loss every day. We have never had to do that previously. I wish he was here now to provide his perspective. I believe he was hit by a car while crossing the street near his business.

We don't know who did what in our mother's case but there were too many, "Well, she has a new unexplainable issue now." However, during those ten days we were there all day but we trusted them. The things that didn't  add up didn't stand out until afterward. The one thing we know is the hospital had a leaning toward pushing no code based on age not health. One time we asked the female chaplain that since we were in our 60s what was our expiration date. She said that actually after a person passes 28, the risks of doing CPR start outweighing the benefits. We asked her if she knew the movie "Logan's Run." She did. Then, I asked why they placed CPR machines out in public for idiots like me to use. I have read articles debating how far to take medical care for older people and preemies. I think it should depend on their condition not age. I wonder if this hospital has changed their philosophy. Their chief administrator did resign.  They saved their rating and Medicare participation. However, when we say this hospital killed our mother, we usually hear general negative comments about it and no defenders, but people go there when they need help. It did drop after this came out and they did a PR campaign.  I wonder how much this nine week trial has damaged them. The pharmacy  and unnamed nurses were criticized for not questioning his orders but no one else has faced charges.

It isn't as if this didn't happen at another hospital here previously. Dr Swango started here but he had probably been forgotten. Anyhow, right or wrong, we are happy that the hospital chain took a hit.