Cindy Cusimano

On Sept 10 my mother, Cindy, woke up in pain in her stomach area. We knew she had a cyst on her ovaries, but she was weak. So I called her doctor and they told me to get her to the hospital, where they admitted her. They ran test and scans. They found out she had cancer on her liver. My mother was 1 year and 10 months breast cancer survivor already. Her doctors wanted to start chemo but had to make sure her heart was strong enough – they found out it was.

On September 18th (which was her and my father 32nd wedding anniversary), the doctors gave her a chemo treatment. My mother was up talking and watching TV with my dad in the hospital in a good mood. He told my mom he was going go get a coffee. He left but turned around to see if my mom wanted a pop, because her mouth was so dry from the chemo. He walked in her room to find blood coming out her mouth and nose. She said she felt fine, and the nurse and my dad cleaned her up. So then my dad left to go get his coffee, just to hear over the hospital speakers, “code blue.” It was to her room. (Sepsis and Cancer)

My dad went back. That was about midnight. They told my dad that my mother was stable and for him to go home and get some rest. Through the night, she coded again then by 6 am, they called my dad, asking if they could give her blood. My dad said to do everything to keep her alive.

My dad got my sister and me up, and told us that we needed to get to the hospital. I dropped my 2 kids off with my older sister and went straight there. I got there before my dad and little sister, so I waited in the lobby. While waiting there, I heard “code blue,” and they read my mom’s room. I lost it in the lobby.

Finally my dad got there and we went upstairs. The doctor pulled us to a quiet room and told us my mother coded 4 times already and they weren’t going give any more chest compressions because her ribs were already broken. So we decided to let her go if she coded again. My mother passed at 8:30 am on Sept 19th, the day after her anniversary and 2 days before her 1st grandchild 6th birthday.

When my dad asked the doctor what happen, he just walked away from him. My mom’s funeral was on the 25th and they finally sent over the death certificate. It had enough nerve to say breast cancer (umm, my mom had a double mastectomy), and then said sepsis for 1 week. We were never told she had it. Were not sure how she got it. Maybe through her port or not proper care handling my mother. So for their careless mistake, my father lost his wife, my sister and I lost a mother, and 2 grandchildren lost their nana and don’t understand. Thank you for letting me vent I feel so lost and confused about everything in life.