Andrea, this is devastating, poignant, beautifully written as always, and so very deeply human. I'm so sorry to hear about all this, and as good writing, does, I feel like I lived through it myself. I'm so sorry my friend. It couldn't have been easy to relive it all through the writing. xoxoxo
Another very well written piece by you, unfortunately it is about the ordeal your mother went through at her hospital stay. I hope that she’s starting to improve. I did want to say I had completely different experiences the last few times I was in the hospital-at three different ones-in the city.
Seven years ago I had to have a kidney transplant and it was done at Weill Cornell and the care, treatment and follow up has been amazing. I’ve also been in HSS and NYU Langone (for two other things)and had the same good experiences with them. I have no idea why my experiences were so different than what your mom has had to go through. But if anyone has had to experience what your mother has gone through it’s unconscionable.
I am so glad you had good care; I wonder if it has something to do with caring for elderly who can't advocate for themselves. When I was at NYU a few years ago (also for kidney ingection_ I had great care. But I could get up and walk around and get what I needed. I wasn't incapacitated and delirious.
It probably has a lot to do with it. Everyone needs an advocate to help them when they are sick. I’m also incredibly on top of my own health care and a strong advocate for myself-but this is me. My sister was in the hospital
Recently in Arizona where she lives and I was her advocate long distance demanding to talk to the doctors-and they did talk to me-so I could ask them a lot of questions. If someone is out of it and in a lot of pain your brain is not going to function properly to ask questions and demand what you need.
Such a heartbreaking story Andrea yet so important that more people talk or shout from the rooftops of their experiences. Sending you and Gloria so much love xo
Another great piece of writing. Sorry it came as a result of your mother's experience at the hospital. I hope she is feeling better. Looking forward to reading part II about the rehab facility.
This is a troubling but very believable piece. Thank you for writing it which must have been painful. I will never forget my mother lying for hours on an inch thick mattress at Roosevelt emergency room with a man on the next cot bleeding on the floor. Our “healthcare” system is the most expensive in the entire world and this is what we get. Unless patients and families become more vocal I don’t know where this is going. To treat elderly—or any—patients like this is truly inhumane and disgusting.
Your experience was the absolute opposite of what mine has been with Tisch. My,late husband was a patient there many times, including several stays in ICU, and the nursing staff was exceptionally kind and thoughtful. I have had several procedures done at Tisch in the past five years and received excellent care from all staff members. I am so sorry to hear what you and your mother went through. I cannot imagine how horrible that was for both you and your mother. I hope she is now well on the road to recovery.
So glad you had a good experience! ICU has different care levels than a general medicine floor. The one nurse we had that was kind was filling in for someone was an ICU nurse.
A beautifully written, if not devastating piece. I'm so sorry you and your mother had to go through this. It's such a broken system, and while I'm glad to be back in America to more fluidly advocate for myself (as opposed to in my broken French) the so-called treatment here is little to be desired and, quite frankly, an abomination. I hope someone takes notice and you're both able to find the dignity and care you deserve—as humans and, especially, as paying customers who spend a fortune on this B.S.!
So sad to hear this story. All hospitals need to hear it and make changes. Maybe you can be an ambassador to get something done. Thank you for sharing your experience.
An awful experience, but I must say that, unfortunately you have not described the rare case. In Philadelphia, where we have some of the very highest rated hospitals, friends and acquaintances have had experiences that reflected many of the atrocities visited upon your mom. As noted in the comments, advocacy is imperative - either self or by a friend/family member/interested party. But even with that, as you have written, it is catch as catch can. I will keep my fingers crossed that your mom will continue to heal and feel better and that there will be no need for another hospital visit - at least not for a long, long time.
I’m so sorry that you and your mom went through this. We recently had a family member at NYU and the experience was cold, confusing, and devoid of the warmth and humanity I witnessed when my own parents were chronically hospitalized 20 years ago. An older nurse recently claimed that she too is surprised at the distance/disdain even that separates medical professionals and patients. It used to be a calling, she’d said, but it doesn’t feel like that anymore. Thanks for writing this, more needs to be said about our utterly broken health care system. Again, my thoughts are with you, best wishes to your mom.
Thank you!!! Yes my mom was a nurse her entire life so she also was shocked at how she was treated. I know there are many nurses out there who are not like the people we experienced at NYU. But I think a marriage of hospitality and hospitals is needed. I am so sorry that you have gone through this too. It's devastating.
Andrea, this is devastating, poignant, beautifully written as always, and so very deeply human. I'm so sorry to hear about all this, and as good writing, does, I feel like I lived through it myself. I'm so sorry my friend. It couldn't have been easy to relive it all through the writing. xoxoxo
Thanks love! It was cathartic. I am trying to get top brass at NYU to pay attention now. They did call me. So let’s see what happens.
Ha ha good for them at least. Brava! What a horror story! I'm glad you are who you are and willing to evoke the experience in such an impactful way.
Another very well written piece by you, unfortunately it is about the ordeal your mother went through at her hospital stay. I hope that she’s starting to improve. I did want to say I had completely different experiences the last few times I was in the hospital-at three different ones-in the city.
Seven years ago I had to have a kidney transplant and it was done at Weill Cornell and the care, treatment and follow up has been amazing. I’ve also been in HSS and NYU Langone (for two other things)and had the same good experiences with them. I have no idea why my experiences were so different than what your mom has had to go through. But if anyone has had to experience what your mother has gone through it’s unconscionable.
I am so glad you had good care; I wonder if it has something to do with caring for elderly who can't advocate for themselves. When I was at NYU a few years ago (also for kidney ingection_ I had great care. But I could get up and walk around and get what I needed. I wasn't incapacitated and delirious.
It probably has a lot to do with it. Everyone needs an advocate to help them when they are sick. I’m also incredibly on top of my own health care and a strong advocate for myself-but this is me. My sister was in the hospital
Recently in Arizona where she lives and I was her advocate long distance demanding to talk to the doctors-and they did talk to me-so I could ask them a lot of questions. If someone is out of it and in a lot of pain your brain is not going to function properly to ask questions and demand what you need.
The system is broken, even the doctors say so. I'm sorry about you and your mother's ordeal.
Thank you Karen.
Such a heartbreaking story Andrea yet so important that more people talk or shout from the rooftops of their experiences. Sending you and Gloria so much love xo
Thanks honey.
Another great piece of writing. Sorry it came as a result of your mother's experience at the hospital. I hope she is feeling better. Looking forward to reading part II about the rehab facility.
Thank you José.
This is a troubling but very believable piece. Thank you for writing it which must have been painful. I will never forget my mother lying for hours on an inch thick mattress at Roosevelt emergency room with a man on the next cot bleeding on the floor. Our “healthcare” system is the most expensive in the entire world and this is what we get. Unless patients and families become more vocal I don’t know where this is going. To treat elderly—or any—patients like this is truly inhumane and disgusting.
Totally agree -- thanks Lisa.
Your experience was the absolute opposite of what mine has been with Tisch. My,late husband was a patient there many times, including several stays in ICU, and the nursing staff was exceptionally kind and thoughtful. I have had several procedures done at Tisch in the past five years and received excellent care from all staff members. I am so sorry to hear what you and your mother went through. I cannot imagine how horrible that was for both you and your mother. I hope she is now well on the road to recovery.
So glad you had a good experience! ICU has different care levels than a general medicine floor. The one nurse we had that was kind was filling in for someone was an ICU nurse.
A beautifully written, if not devastating piece. I'm so sorry you and your mother had to go through this. It's such a broken system, and while I'm glad to be back in America to more fluidly advocate for myself (as opposed to in my broken French) the so-called treatment here is little to be desired and, quite frankly, an abomination. I hope someone takes notice and you're both able to find the dignity and care you deserve—as humans and, especially, as paying customers who spend a fortune on this B.S.!
So sad to hear this story. All hospitals need to hear it and make changes. Maybe you can be an ambassador to get something done. Thank you for sharing your experience.
An awful experience, but I must say that, unfortunately you have not described the rare case. In Philadelphia, where we have some of the very highest rated hospitals, friends and acquaintances have had experiences that reflected many of the atrocities visited upon your mom. As noted in the comments, advocacy is imperative - either self or by a friend/family member/interested party. But even with that, as you have written, it is catch as catch can. I will keep my fingers crossed that your mom will continue to heal and feel better and that there will be no need for another hospital visit - at least not for a long, long time.
I’m so sorry that you and your mom went through this. We recently had a family member at NYU and the experience was cold, confusing, and devoid of the warmth and humanity I witnessed when my own parents were chronically hospitalized 20 years ago. An older nurse recently claimed that she too is surprised at the distance/disdain even that separates medical professionals and patients. It used to be a calling, she’d said, but it doesn’t feel like that anymore. Thanks for writing this, more needs to be said about our utterly broken health care system. Again, my thoughts are with you, best wishes to your mom.
Thank you!!! Yes my mom was a nurse her entire life so she also was shocked at how she was treated. I know there are many nurses out there who are not like the people we experienced at NYU. But I think a marriage of hospitality and hospitals is needed. I am so sorry that you have gone through this too. It's devastating.