Donation protected
Our favorite sassy, sometimes snarky, but always BIG-Hearted friend, James, contracted the dreaded Covid-19 back in July 2020. He was unnerved by it, but symptoms by and large were like a severe bout of the flu-fatigue, headache, body aches off and on fever.
By day 13 after symptoms began, he started feeling well enough to walk Hilton. The next morning he called me worried that he could not move his left hand. He went to the hospital, where it was determined to be a Covid related stroke. He had an emergency surgery to break up the clot. He spent several days in ICU, and a while longer in hospital. He then was moved to Jim Thorpe rehab, as his entire left side was/is paralyzed with his left arm cramping up against his chest and his left leg twisting at an angle that makes it nearly impossible to put foot flat on floor or facing forward.
Initially, he was making some slow progress. However, a few weeks to a month in, he got a UTI and was sent back to the ICU because he was septic. It took a couple weeks to get him back in shape to return to rehab. He has been shuffled around to several different facilities been back and forth to the hospital for falls, suspected mini-strokes, possible head injuries etc. It has been a God awful experience for him.
In December his insurance ran out and Tuscany Village was trying to get his father to take him despite the fact that James is unable to transfer from bed to wheelchair, wheelchair to bathroom, etc. James' father is 84 years old and unable to lift him or care for him safely. At one point his father agreed, but after consulting with a nurse-friend decided it would not be wise. He was also unable to secure a spot for him a facility closer to his home.
Then, sadly, the day before Christmas Eve, Tuscany Village took the most inhumane and cruel step of coercing James to sign discharge papers as they pushed his wheelchair toward the exit. James was compelled to sign, so they put him in a MedRide, who got him into his apartment. At least the driver was decent enough to make sure James got to the bed and left him there; they left no wheelchair, walker or cane. No one ensured his phone had a full charge, no one bothered to notify his dad, Nancy or me that he was dropped at his apartment alone. If it weren't for Nancy being concerned on Christmas Eve that James hadn't answered any texts or phone calls from any of us.... This story might be even MORE tragic. She called Tuscany and learned that he had been taken home. She went to check on him and he had fallen, trying to get to the bathroom. He had been lying on the floor for close to 24 hours when he was found. He was very confused and frightened . He ended up back in the hospital with bleeding on the brain. He stayed there for about 2 weeks.
Now, his insurance refuses to cover more skilled nursing and he is private paying for long term care. It costs $5250 per month and includes NO physical therapy whatsoever.
Our goal is to raise enough money to get him physical therapy, so that he can get well enough to move in with me in Texas and hopefully, at least part-time home health will be covered either by insurance or once he gets medicaid/medicare.
The biggest irony and shame is that James has been a fantastic and meticulous Social worker for the state of Oklahoma for numerous years, where he has helped so many.
James needs our help now! Please consider a donation of any size to help cover his medical bills, get him some therapy and cover him until insurance or medicare kicks in.
He is so isolated and alone, we need to get him out of nursing facility ASAP.
Thank you for taking time to read and share this tragic tale of Covid.
Stay Safe!
By day 13 after symptoms began, he started feeling well enough to walk Hilton. The next morning he called me worried that he could not move his left hand. He went to the hospital, where it was determined to be a Covid related stroke. He had an emergency surgery to break up the clot. He spent several days in ICU, and a while longer in hospital. He then was moved to Jim Thorpe rehab, as his entire left side was/is paralyzed with his left arm cramping up against his chest and his left leg twisting at an angle that makes it nearly impossible to put foot flat on floor or facing forward.
Initially, he was making some slow progress. However, a few weeks to a month in, he got a UTI and was sent back to the ICU because he was septic. It took a couple weeks to get him back in shape to return to rehab. He has been shuffled around to several different facilities been back and forth to the hospital for falls, suspected mini-strokes, possible head injuries etc. It has been a God awful experience for him.
In December his insurance ran out and Tuscany Village was trying to get his father to take him despite the fact that James is unable to transfer from bed to wheelchair, wheelchair to bathroom, etc. James' father is 84 years old and unable to lift him or care for him safely. At one point his father agreed, but after consulting with a nurse-friend decided it would not be wise. He was also unable to secure a spot for him a facility closer to his home.
Then, sadly, the day before Christmas Eve, Tuscany Village took the most inhumane and cruel step of coercing James to sign discharge papers as they pushed his wheelchair toward the exit. James was compelled to sign, so they put him in a MedRide, who got him into his apartment. At least the driver was decent enough to make sure James got to the bed and left him there; they left no wheelchair, walker or cane. No one ensured his phone had a full charge, no one bothered to notify his dad, Nancy or me that he was dropped at his apartment alone. If it weren't for Nancy being concerned on Christmas Eve that James hadn't answered any texts or phone calls from any of us.... This story might be even MORE tragic. She called Tuscany and learned that he had been taken home. She went to check on him and he had fallen, trying to get to the bathroom. He had been lying on the floor for close to 24 hours when he was found. He was very confused and frightened . He ended up back in the hospital with bleeding on the brain. He stayed there for about 2 weeks.
Now, his insurance refuses to cover more skilled nursing and he is private paying for long term care. It costs $5250 per month and includes NO physical therapy whatsoever.
Our goal is to raise enough money to get him physical therapy, so that he can get well enough to move in with me in Texas and hopefully, at least part-time home health will be covered either by insurance or once he gets medicaid/medicare.
The biggest irony and shame is that James has been a fantastic and meticulous Social worker for the state of Oklahoma for numerous years, where he has helped so many.
James needs our help now! Please consider a donation of any size to help cover his medical bills, get him some therapy and cover him until insurance or medicare kicks in.
He is so isolated and alone, we need to get him out of nursing facility ASAP.
Thank you for taking time to read and share this tragic tale of Covid.
Stay Safe!
Organizer and beneficiary
Kim Martinez
Organizer
Arlington, TX
James Cowden
Beneficiary