August 31, 2010

Here’s the latest terrible news as of 5 pm Chicago time today:

Linda’s planned transfer to RML in Hinsdale scheduled for tomorrow has been canceled. Dr. Mangus at I U Hospital does not believe RML is equipped to properly manage Linda’s chest tube drainage. Dr. Tector thinks she should be transferred. A meeting is set for tomorrow at 9 am Indianapolis time for them to try to sort out their differences. I don’t understand why this is needed, since Tector is Mangus’ boss, but this is what I am being told. Meanwhile, plans for the transfer have been canceled. Of course by the time the doctors sort out their differences, Linda will end up being in Indianapolis for another week.

It isn’t fair to Linda to raise her hopes like this that she is getting closer to home, and then dash them to pieces at the last minute, especially when I U Hospital has such an obvious conflict of interest because they know a malpractice lawsuit is coming their way and their judgment has to be affected by that knowledge. They are just holding her hostage now.

The emotional roller coaster ride for Linda is made even more scary because she has no one who loves her with her there now. Debbie is home and Chuck was going to fly down and ride back with her, since Pattie can’t, and no one is in the room with Linda to hold her hand and help her through all of this. The doctors just drop by, announce their decisions, and leave. No wonder Linda gets depressed about it all. I’m not even allowed to speak to her on the phone about any of this to help her understand what is happening or let her know there are folks here at home pulling for her every minute of every day. She is going to be devastated by this. Now Chuck won’t know until it is too late for him to fly down whether or not they are even going to release her tomorrow.

I have long since run out of money to pay lawyers $250 per hour to gab on the phone with I U Hospital people about this when the people who talk to our lawyers apparently aren’t even the ones making the decision whether Linda comes home or not. The nightmare gets worse and worse every day.

I can’t ever say “thank you” enough to Richard, Chuck, Donna and Tom for helping us through this out of the kindness of their hearts when there is no other earthly reason for them to get involved in this disaster. I know Debbie is doing her best, even though she is terribly angry with me and blames me for everything that has happened. The situation is intolerable for everyone involved. I just hope the delay does not end up costing Linda an available bed at RML. It is absolutely unbelievable that in 21^st Century America doctors can hold a perfectly competent patient prisoner in this way.

All I can ask anyone to do now is pray for a change of heart at I U Hospital tomorrow morning.