On August 13, 2021, I was in Cabo San Lucas. It was in the morning. We were to be tested for Covid before flying home. Mom had been diagnosed with Covid that weekend we left, August 8-9, 2021 and was sent home without anything. That Wednesday morning when I facetimed with her, her 02 stats were 87% on room air; so she was sent to the hospital. I could see that she was tired and pale and just didn’t feel good. My sister lived with them, so she, mom and dad had Covid. So, they were quarantined at home.

I spoke with mom on that Thursday after admission to the hospital, and they kept telling us that we need to let her rest. When we arrived back in Dallas, I stopped by the hospital to see her. I was greeted by a nurse and asked if I could go in and see her. She said, “No”.  I then asked her to let her know that her oldest daughter was here to see her. She went in to tell mom and mom started getting up out of the bed, removing all the IV’s. On the way home, I received a phone call from dad that they just vented her right after I left. I was devastated.

From there, she continued to go downhill. I spoke with the nurses and the hospitalist every day. I went to see mom every single day before work, at lunch and after work.  I was only able to look through the window, not go in, hold my mom’s hand and hear me to tell her that I love her. I can say that the nurses took really good care of my mom. I am in the Medical Field. I am a Physical Therapist Assistant of +25 years, so I know a little bit about diseases, medications, and the like.

One day when I was speaking with the hospitalist I stated, “What you guys are doing is not working. Mom had kidney issues before all this; the Remdesivir is not working”. His statement, “Well, we don’t have other medications here.” Hmmm. I thought, well, that was not an appropriate answer. When I tried to get in touch with my mom’s MD; I left several messages before she finally called me or I called her again: I don’t remember exactly.  She stated, “Your mom is very sick.”  Me: I know that, but what is happening is not working. Her kidneys are shutting down and she had kidney issues before, bouts of pneumonia as well. Mom was receiving infusions for pneumonia 2-3x year maybe before hospitalization. So, she was HIGH risk.

On Monday, 8/16/2021, my dad was admitted to the same hospital which is another story; little more tough to relive. On Wednesday, 8/18/2021, they were going to put in a port for dialysis. To be honest with you; I really don’t know if they “really” ever did. That’s where trusting your medical team comes in. They said that it wasn’t working. On Friday, 8/20/2021, I got off work at 12, went to the hospital and went in to see mom.  Her BP was 50/30 as the nurse was giving her medication to bring her BP up.  At that point, I knew in my heart that she would pass soon. I went and got in my car and called all the family and friends to get there ASAP.

Mom passed away around ~10 am. They allowed all of us in the room at that point with PPE and watched my mom take her last breath. She was married to my dad for 60 years. I have so many questions because I do not understand. Also, during that week, I felt like I was in a horror movie. Gurneys were going out every single day; not just 1, but 2+ morning, noon and night. Why? Isn’t a human life were saving? Isn’t that the hippocratic oath we all take if we are in the medical field?”

I have not looked at their medical records as of yet. It is still so fresh and heart wrenching. I know that it didn’t affect just our family, but I think of all the innocent lives that were lost during Covid. Only God knows. I DO want to be an advocate and change the protocols for anyone that is hospitalized. I will followup with the story of my dad which passed 8 days later. My husband was also admitted in February 2022 and he survived, thank the Lord. That story will follow up as well. Advocacy is so important. Having someone with you even when you go to the MD, Hospital, ER.