My father, Crisantemo T. Concepcion, was a Christian, U.S. Navy Vietnam Veteran, full of life, loved his country, and family. He dedicated his life to making sure everyone knew about His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Here is a daily account per Dad’s medical records and my interactions with him. I had no idea the hospital was killing me or my parents with remdesivir until it was too late.

On 8/10/21, he had a fainting spell and went to Orlando Health – Horizon West ER. He tested positive for Covid and was admitted. Mom tested positive as well but was sent home to isolate. I was discharged from the same hospital that same day (after 4 days of remdesivir and olumiant) and Dr ordered bed rest at home with 2L O2, 94% oxygenation.

On 8/11/21, at 4:33 PM, Dad was transferred to Orlando Health – Health Central HCH for higher level of care by Dr. Ogando.

On 8/12/21, at 8:53 PM, Dad texts us that he’s getting 4 square meals a day, steroids, remdesivir, vital signs checked, A-fib under control. Medical records show 8/12/21, 12:31 PM, Hermine L Forte-Morris, APRN (inpatient consult to Infectious Diseases) consult ordered by Umair A. Khan, DO for acute hypoxic respiratory failure due to c-19 pneumonia, initially maintaining oxygenation on room air 2L. Increased to 4L of FiO2 oxygen saturation 94%. In mild distress, diminished breath sounds throughout. No heart murmur. Alert and oriented. Plan: continue remdesivir, monitor LFTs/creatinine daily while on remdesivir, continue dexamethasone per pulmonology, encourage use of incentive spirometer. Medical records show 8/12/21, 12:31 PM Cristina M. Amado, MD (Attending Physician – Div of Infectious Diseases) CXR with mild patchy bilateral opacities.

He was started on cefepime and vancomycin. He is on 10L supplemental oxygen. He is on dexamethasone and remdesivir. Recommendations: continue remdesivir x5d, monitor LFTs, renal function while on remdesivir, continue dexamethasone x10d, recommend patient get vaccine 2 wks after discharge, Dad was not interested in the vaccine. Medical records show 8/12/21, 1:01 PM Herman G. Gaztambide-Rodriguez, MD (Pulmonology inpatient consult), principal problem: sepsis, active problems: A-fib, c-19, acute hyponatremia, hypoxia, acute renal failure superimposed on stage 3 chronic kidney disease. Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure due to c-19 PNA, HFNC @ 12L, decadron 6mg BID as per primary team, remdesivir x 5 days, maintain O2 saturation >92% weaning as tolerated. Concern for continued evolution into worsening respiratory failure and will initiate remdesivir at this moment. Physical exam: Constitutional: He is oriented to person, place, and time. He appears well-developed and well-nourished. No distress. Mild to moderate work of breathing. Pulmonary/Chest: He is in respiratory distress. He has no wheezes. He has rales.

On 8/13/21, at 4:30 PM, Dad sends us a group text that his rx is ready for pick up. I text does this mean he’s coming home. He replies at 7:27 PM and says no, his rx is available for pick up.  We are unable to pick up his rx because we are all home sick with c-19. I respond at 7:28 PM asking if he was feeling well. At 7:30 PM he responds with, “Ok”. 7:31 PM I asked if Dad is still on remdesivir, breathing better, any more tests. He responds at 7:36 PM, “Just finished dinner. Has low BP hosp searching drug to raise BP.” I respond at 7:37 PM, “Oh Dad, will Eliquis help to raise BP? Praying now”. At 7:40 PM, Dad responds, “Just had Covid drugs ELIQUIS is not BP med.” I respond, “Oh ok, Heavenly Father, please show the Dr where the exact BP med Dad needs to raise his BP. How about increasing salt in the meantime?” Dad replies at 7:42 PM, “Tell MR to sleep on either side and on stomach NEVER on BACK.” I respond at 7:43 PM, “Ok, that’s how I sleep, on my belly”. Dad’s last text at 7:49 PM, “Miss you all love always pray without ceasing. Have a blessed night. DO”. I reply at 7:55 PM, “Miss and love you Dad. Sleep well.”

On 8/14/21 at 3 PM, spoke with Dad on the phone while in his room 316. He said dinner was crap, got his covid drugs, and will be discharged on Monday, told him I loved him.

On 8/15/21, at 12 PM, Mom was sent to ER for shaking, oxygenation 88-92%. Dad’s medical records at 6:20 PM show Victor A. Diaz Cotrina, MD (Neurology) inpatient consult. Today presented worsening or oxygen requirements and he developed left facial droop and left-sided weakness. He was stroke alerted and he had CTOH w/o contrast with no evidence for acute changes, CTA H&N with no evidence for acute LVO or significant stenosis. Patient was not a candidate for tPA due to Apixaban. Pt has a pacemaker; thus unlikely to get MRI brain. At the moment of my evaluation, pt is confused, poorly cooperative with exam, unable to provide any history. Neurological Exam: Limited neurological exam due to severe confusion, and encephalopathy. He is unable to follow simple commands. He is non-verbal. Unable to cooperate for MMSE. CN: Pt resists eye-opening. He will not cooperate with visual fields or retinal exams. No facial droop. Tongue is midline. Hearing seems preserved to voice. MOTOR: pt is restless. He moves his arms and legs with minimal weakness in the left hemibody: arm>leg. No rigidity. Planta reflexes are withdrawal. SENSORY: He withdraws from pain. He will not cooperate for proprioception or graphesthesia pt does not cooperate for coordination or ambulation.

On 8/16/21, at 5 PM I called Orlando Health – Health Central, operator said Dad was in Room 104.

On 8/17/21 at 10:23 AM I sent a group text to the family, “Spoke with Nurse Arnold at Health Central. Dad is resting, and under observation, nurse will let me know the status of Dad. He’s in good hands. He doesn’t have a room phone and hasn’t been checking his cell lately. I’m glad he’s able to rest. That’s what Mom and Dad need right now.” 8/17/21, at 7 PM Chaplain Missouri McPhee is at our door with Chaplain Arnold Porter and they asked us if Cris Concepcion lived here. I asked how he was doing because I tried calling him for two days and she said he wasn’t doing good. She said we had to go to Health Central. 8/17/21, at 8 PM Nurse Heather tells me she was Dad’s nurse since Sunday (8/15/21) when he was unresponsive. Dad’s been on 55L with 70% oxygenation. He suffered a stroke in the wee hours of Sunday morning, (8/15/21). He also had a mild heart attack. When I asked her how they treated him for Covid, she said he wasn’t a candidate for remdesivir because of his kidney issue. She said if they intubate him, he wouldn’t make it. She said he would be in a home, hooked up to machines, and in a vegetative state. I knew Dad didn’t want that based on his Advanced Directive and he signed a DNR. She asked if I wanted to see him as he was on his stomach. I signed the paperwork to have Dad moved into hospice care. 8/17/21, at 9PM I visit Mom in ICU at Orlando Health – Horizon West to tell her about Dad but the nurses advised against me telling her because she’s on 40L O2 and fighting for her life. She was in a coma.

On 8/18/21, at 4 PM Dr. Shaik, ICU Palliative Care, called to say Dad wasn’t doing well and they would keep him comfortable. On 8/18/21, I visit Mom at Orlando Health – Horizon West and tell her Infectious Disease Dr, I’m Mom’s advocate and tell her to STOP treatment of remdesivir and olumiant. The Infectious Disease Dr said that Mom still had one more treatment of remdesivir and several of olumiant. I SAID, “ENOUGH!” The Dr puts on Mom’s chart to stop remdesivir and olumiant treatment.

On 8/19/21, at 10:15 AM Dr. Shaik tells us that Dad is imminent. Asks if we want to say goodbye via WhatsApp. On 8/18/21, I check on Mom to make sure they’ve stopped remdesivir and olumiant. I also bring my $3 rx of ivermectin and tell the Infectious Disease Dr to save every Covid patient on this floor with this medication. She puts her hands together and her face becomes still as she recites like a robot in a trance-like state, “You will have to bring this medication up to our hospital administrators as this drug is not used at this hospital to treat Covid.” It was eerily bizarre. I told Mom’s charge nurse and he too went into a trance and recited the same spiel.

On 8/20/21, at 2:43 AM Charge Nurse Lincoln at Orlando Health – Health Central medical surgical unit, Room 551, says Dad’s oxygenation and BP are low. He’s near the end. At 3:19 AM Dad passes away. 8/20/21, Mom texts me that she got the royal treatment, sponge bath, and feels 1000% better. She has no idea her beloved has passed. I can’t even tell her until she is off oxygen because the mere act of crying will exacerbate her pneumonia. It isn’t until 10/20/21, two months after Dad passes, that I’m able to tell her the news.

This has been an excruciating, tragic, and gut-wrenching experience that my family has gone through. I have been very vocal about the truth of what Orlando Health did by killing my father. If they just treated him for pneumonia, he would still be alive today. Remdesivir causes acute kidney failure, total organ failure, sepsis, and hypertension. All of those symptoms happened to my Dad and were happening to my Mom until I was well enough to stand between her and her doctors as her advocate. I wish I was healthy enough to do the same for Dad. This guilt will be with me until the day I die.