Edward Prisco

In March, 2013, my dad was in rehab to build up his strength. At 90+ years, he was a vibrant man. I said goodnight to him on a Friday night and then the nightmare began. My son went to go see him the next day and called me in a panic. Dad didn’t know him, was slumped over in a chair and had food down his shirt while the staff sat around eating ice cream. He asked the staff to call an ambulance, but they refused. They said he was just tired from therapy, but later we found out that he hadn’t had therapy. He had a fever and they were going to put him to bed and give him a Tylenol. My son persisted and finally someone called the doctor who okayed the request.

I arrived when the ambulance pulled up. Dad recognized me, but I could tell things weren’t right with him. The paramedics could barely get a blood pressure reading.

Our family met at the hospital and while in the ER waiting room, the doctor asked if they could intubate him. My mom looked at me and I said NO. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do, but Dad never wanted any intervention if and when it was his time to go.

Dad was diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia and sepsis. (Sepsis and Pneumonia) He passed away early Monday morning. I don’t know if he would have survived if the staff had noticed his condition earlier and got him the care he needed. Could we have avoided the request for intubation? Did they even know the signs of sepsis or had even heard of it? As a sepsis survivor myself, I know how horrible it can be and how hard it would have been for him at his age. But it is too late for us now.

My dad lived a good life. He was a WWII veteran, was a loving husband and father. He was an amazing woodworker and golfer. We miss him everyday.

I don’t want anyone else to go through this. This facility came highly recommended. The nursing home staff should have been paying attention to his condition or at least listened to my son when he said there was something wrong with his grandfather. Quiz them on sepsis, do they recognize the symptoms? Be careful when you place your loved ones in the hands of others. They will never care for them or love them as you do.

Source: Dianne Prisco Burnett-daughter