So, My Mom Might Own The Hospital Now...

 \Post 11\ 03.26.2026

 Hello hello hello everyone! I'm experimenting with fonts so please excuse me if you hate this...

 

I hope all is well, or at least as well as it can be considering... you know.

 

Here is the maybe not so long awaited update: 

 

It looks like I will finally be released from my hospital imprisonment. A lot of things happened during this hospitalization that I am severely uncomfortable with. Let's make a list together, shall we?

 

 As you can see, the list is a bit long, and this is not even a comprehensive list - this is just a short summary.

 So let's talk about number 1, they lost my home medications

These medications are over a thousand dollars, but because I "had refills left" on this medication, the hospital apparently does not have to take any accountability. AND because they withheld these medications during my hospitalization, I have to start the process of weaning myself onto the medication ALL OVER AGAIN.

 

Now about number 2, the hospital waited until I was ineligible for acute inpatient physical therapy to refer me for discharge to acute inpatient physical therapy.

 

 This little mishap caused my hospital stay to be increased by THREE ENTIRE WEEKS. That's correct - 21 of the 42 days I was confined to a hospital was due to waiting for placement at an acute rehab center for physical therapy. Here's the kicker:

the hospital staff was well aware the likelihood I would be accepted to a rehab center was -10%. Abysmal. Virtually impossible. Highly improbable. This is because I NO LONGER NEEDED A PHYSICIAN TO CHECK IN ON ME EVERY DAY - A KEY PART OF STAYING IN AN ACUTE REHAB CENTER.

 

So I was waiting for nothing. Spoiler Alert: I was not accepted to any facility within a 300 mile radius. 
Now my mother, a non medical professional, is responsible for facilitating my rehabilitation because I cannot walk properly yet and need a lot of help to get around. At least I will get to have a miniature vacation back home? Spend quality time with my mother hoping we don't butt heads too often?  

 

So let's talk about number 3, my doctor did not explore my concern for sepsis until after I was already in septic shock and found unconscious on my hospital room floor. 

I ended up having to spend almost a week in the ICU because my blood pressure was dangerously low and my fever wouldn't stay below 104℉.  I had to lay on an ice bed! Ya girl was freezing and shaking like a leaf while my Nursing Assistant (shout out to him and my girl!) was wrapping me in warm blankets like a burrito and trying to keep me calm and my other Nursing Assistant saved my life by checking on me and finding me unconscious on the floor and packing my body with ice packs.

Spoiler Alert: I told my doctor my immature white blood cells were too high on my blood work to indicate anything other than the beginnings of sepsis a few days prior to going into septic shock. He said "the rest of your blood work looks fine so I don't think so." Boy, was he wrong.

 

Next, let's talk about number 4, my feeding tube was placed incorrectly 3 separate times leading to sepsis, then septic shock, then a stent in the ICU. 

 

Keep in mind this does not include the two other times my feeding tube decided to malfunction or try to kill me by coiling in my throat, blocking my oxygen flow. My feeding tube was placed AND replaced six times total within nine days. That's right SIX SEPARATE TIMES. Now, one might ask themselves, "why didn't they try something else after the third one?" or "shouldn't they have sent her somewhere else where they could place the tube successfully?" or maybe even "should they try to do that procedure that many times?" You know, I had those same questions when I was vomiting up my third feeding tube. 
It wasn't until the 6th try that my care team decided to attempt to place a surgical feeding tube. By that time, they were scrambling to find different teams across the hospital to do the procedure because they did not have the skill set to navigate my complex GI anatomy. No one else in the entire hospital did either - the hospital dissolved the department that did. Mhmm. You read that correctly. The biggest, most advanced, critically acclaimed hospital in the entire state got rid of the department that helps with challenging surgical procedures. 

Keep in mind, this is the same hospital that studies rare diseases and treats commonly un-treatable, un-excisable malignancies and tumors. Oh - and they bought up nearly every other hospital in the state. Anyone up for a game of Monopoly?

Turns out doing multiple unsuccessful minimally invasive procedures on an already anatomically complex individual could lead to spreading bacteria and infection. Who knew?  

 

Alright. Finally, let's talk about number 5, my doctor suggested I have a STRANGER help me into and out of my home if physical therapy and occupational therapy could not be arranged with insurance. They even suggested my friend who is smaller than I (no offense girl, I LOVE you) help me because she wants to attend PT school. 

Now, what the actual hell? I know she was fucking lying. Let's not do the logical thing and see if I can have arrangements within the hospital to stay for PT - nope. Let's risk a stranger's safety and my safety by having them attempt to maneuver me up to my third floor apartment. 
Be so fucking for real. Strange thing is - this doctor is very good. Thorough. Kind. REASONABLE. My care team must have been really hopeless to suggest such foolishness. 

 

Where does that leave me? Shacked up with my mom at her house adding to her stress because I can't physically take care of myself alone. I needed to be in a facility with trained professionals getting intensive therapy so I could return to work in 2 weeks instead of 4 to 6... 

But I'm working hard. I've already done an hour of physical therapy today before I even finished waking up. I'm still hung up on the ending of Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry. I started reading Project Hail Mary and I'm going to learn how to play Magic: The Gathering. I'm spending hours on AI Dungeon🔥 and Old Greg's⚔️ - they are so much fun! 

Since I'm in my old hometown, I may even get the chance to catch up with old friends and family or find someone willing to wheel me around the city in my fancy wheelchair.

 

Today was my first day outside since February 13th. And you know how that made me feel? Like I wanted to go back inside.  

All in all, I did manage to advocate for myself. Strongly. And my mother did her big one on the hospital. My guess is... She will be on the Board of Trustees by the end of the year. 

 

What did we learn from being in the hospital for over 40 days?  

 

Here comes another list. Be prepared. Here we go: 

 Alrighty folks. That's all I got. 

Oh! Please remember to Advocate. ADVOCATE - I'm serious. Your life literally depends on it.

 

Till next time friends. Remember, you deserve the world and then some. ✨❤️