A POTENTIALY SERIOUS NIGHT OF CONTENDING WITH AN I.V. TREATMENT MISHAP.....WITH A DOUBLY FORTUNATE ENDING...........

All went well for me Thursday, throughout the day - with progress in both my O.T., and P.T., sessions; and in my wheelchairing around the facility, as well as recreational therapy using the internet and the television. My two priestly visitors and the phone calls I shared had me pleased and positively energized. My one hour Vanko antibiotic infusion treatment was started interveniously at circa 7:30 p.m. Near the conclusion the nurse brought me one of my medications, which I took immediately with a healthy sip of water in a styrofoam cup she handed me. After taking the meds, I sat the cup on the rolling table next to my bedside. The nurse proceeded with disconnecting the line from my central line port, on my right side above the pectoral. After she did so and flushed the port with saline, she left the room and I returned to viewing the news on CNN. A few moments later I lifted the water cup off the table and sipped the remaining 1 - 2 ounces of fluid remaining in the cup from it, and immediately experienced a stinging and then constantly burning sensation in my throat of a chemical nature, and a strong aftertaste of also of chemicals. Smelling the empty cup, there was a distinct odor of something chemical or medicinal. I reported it to the nursing staff, to be told that there was nothing but water in the cup and denying there was any harm done to me. Frustrated by the indifference and resistance to contacting the house doctor or my doctors, I telephoned my patient advocate, Sharon Bishop, to advise as to what I should do, and then phoned the answering services of Drs. Cookson, McMonagle, and Bhat, and left detailed messages for them at their offices in Roseville. The doctor covering last night for Dr. Cookson, and Dr. McMonagle himself, each returned my calls within the hour. Meanwhile the facility house doctor was off and had another doctor covering for him. It took two requests from me, and one from Sharon Bishop over the phone, to have the doctor on call for the facility to be contacted. He would not come to see me, but only consult with the staff over the phone about my problem. Dr. McMonagle advised me if the house doctor did not appear here, to get to the Emergency Room at the nearby Methodist Hospital, as soon as possible. While i waited for medical care to be made available to me for the incident, Sharon Bishop called Joe Gibson, who agreed to come to the facility to be with me. The facility staff told me I had to be transported by ambulance the very short distance, for which payment is my responsibility. I told them I would not go by ambulance, but by having Joe transport me. Joe arrived and he helped me prepare to go to the ER, when arriving at the Nursing Station on our way to the exit we were told I coud not go to the ER as I was choosing, without being in violation of going, "Against Medical Advice", and would be forced to sign a Discharge, leaving me with no guaranteed bed in any facility, unless Methodist Hospital decided to admit me overnight. A security guard was even called by the staff to supposedly prevent us from leaving under my own volition with Joe. The ER staff worked quickly to get me in a cubicle and start the work-up on me. The nurse who worked with me, was very conversant with Joe and I, and was a great reassurance to me. The ER doctor was efficient, proficient, and examined me without delay, and was patient friendly. He found no burning marks on my throat, and said it was likely a small enough amount of vanko / saline not to do me any harm or permanent damage. After observing me for an additional half hour plus they released me to return to Brucevile Terrace. I expreseed concern for my safety in this facility, and asked the doctor and or nurse, to call and guarantee I would not be returning into a hostile environment. The ambulance attendants returned to drive me back across the parking lot and put me back into my Room 116B bed. Joe saw I got settled in, and departed for home at 2:20 a.m. This morning after breakfast I took a shower, completed two daily therapy sessions, had my lunch, and was driven by Michael Franzwa, a former parishioner at Holy Famiy Parish, to my Roseville appointment with my Infections specialist, and upon my return here, was told Mercy General Rehab has a bed for me, which I must claim by 6 p.m. A nursing assistant has packed my belongings, I called Victor to see if he is available to drive me to 40th & J Streets, called to ask Roger Geach if he will be my back up driver, and I am completing this blog column as I await Victor's arrival in about an hour. I am thrilled, make that ecstatic, to be going to where I should have been transferred to two weeks ago. I am confident there I will complete my rehabilitation, and skilled nursing, and succeed in a garnering at the end of this ten week process of healing and preparation, the perfect prostheses on a fully healed right foot and leg stump. In a facility with the care, compassion, integrity, and dignity, for the human person, that are undeniably linked to the Gospel Values we believe, as Disciples of Jesus The Christ..........Fr. Troy David Powers