Joe Brady

My dad had lived an extra 37 years since his first massive heart attack in 1979. Although his heart was always a concerning condition he always overcame obstacles and amazed doctors and the medical community. In nearly four decades of healthcare my father never experienced sepsis. Until July 8 2016 when he was taken to the ER for fluid retention.

During transport to the hospital his skin tears (Coumadin side effect) were torn open. Although his heart was always a priority, we couldn’t ignore the neglect of his seeping wounds. We asked for care, begged for attention but the doctors found our concern of such petty issues as distracting us from the long term prognosis. They continually dismissed our concerns. He was admitted at 1:30 PM…at 6:00 PM we were promised they would care for the wounds … the first time hospital personnel attended to those seeping wounds was at 11:00 PM upon entry to the intensive care unit.

By 10:00 AM the next day I noticed he was now on antibiotics. The nurse’s response to my inquiry was “you are correct, they are treating him for sepsis”. Within five hours sepsis completely hijacked my dad’s body and systematically began to shut down organs and eventually stole his last breath.

The lesson I learned is the little, dismissed, and almost common sense observations need greater elevation, a stronger voice, and a relentless spirit to not allow medical experts to waste valuable time and risk non-reversible results from not heeding the voice of patient and/ or family.

We meet with top medical and administrative officers in 10 days. Your stories and my Dad’s experience will strengthen our resolve to speak TRUTH. May we all vow to turn the volume up.

Source: Maryann, Joe's daughter