Support Seth McDowell and his family

Hello, my name is Brooke Mcdowell, and I truly appreciate you taking the time to read our story. My husband Seth went in for pre-ops for a total right knee replacement Nov 22, the weds before Thanksgiving. Surgery would be on Dec 4th. His EKG was abnormal causing him to need cardiac clearance for surgery. Ok no problem. Little did we know this was going to be more than cardiac clearance. We didn't make it to that cardiac appt because he wasn't breathing right and just total exhausted so after some coxing I got him to go to our primary care office. They checked his vitas and sent us directly to the ER in Paducah. There after several EKGs, bloodwork and a chest X-ray he was admitted with a diagnosis of AFIB. This stay lasted 4 days and resulted in lots of testing-more EKGs, labs, stress test, echo, and a ZIO patch (a heart monitor he would take home and wear 24 hours a day for 14 days). He was also scheduled for cardioversion on Dec 13th to attempt to shock his heart back into rhythm. this was short , sweet and affective. However, a week or so later he started the shortness of breath again and fought it for a couple weeks until I made him go back to the ER. Again he was admitted this time for 5 days same as before Afib and all the tests that come with it and COVID (yep lets kick him while he's down). We had to test then as well I was negative but Kooper was positive. Great now I have one at home and one in the hospital both with Covid so back and forth I went and wore my mask took care of all our day to day stuff stayed with Seth then with Koop and kept up the rotation for 5 long days. Seth was discharged with more meds, a sleep study and a post appt for the results. Next he had his Cardiac follow up visit where he insisted on clearance to get his knee done and then he would come back and do cardio version if he still needed it. Surgery was then scheduled for Feb 15. Finally we were moving forward. Stop-spoke to soon- sleep study was canceled insurance denied as he did not show symptoms so he doesn't have sleep apnea. WHAT?? After we spoke to the Sleep Study Dr's staff we were told it was a coding error and he would be rescheduled but not until the next opening in MAY?!? Since then we have received an approval letter for the sleep study and that office also informed Seth they would call him first if anyone cancels before his appt. Ok props done all is good surgery is getting closer and we are nervous. The big day comes it takes about 3 hours but he wakes up in good Seth form. We leave and have a smooth ride home and into the house start PT the following day and he does well has good measurements therapist is pleased. We set up his schedule 3x4 for now. Sunday he gets to shower yippee. this goes well. when we are getting him into bed Sunday night we notice some blood on the dressing that was new. he had PT the next morning so we spoke with them and called the dr leaving a vm as did the therapist. no reply on Monday. we called again on Tuesday-again nothing. Therapy again on Weds and they call until someone calls back. the Dr's PA calls to see if we can get there by 5:30. We actually couldn't Kooper and I were at the eye dr in Princeton and it was 5pm. I called them back to explain and they asked if we could be there by 5:50, yes I think I can do that. We arrived at 5:49. Dr was livid that he had not been informed and upset that Seth was having this leakage and worried it was infected. He removed the dressing, cleaned everything up and then inspected it for about 20 minutes, all while talking himself through the pros and cons of going back in to clean it out. Final answer...back to surgery the next morning. Thursday we arrived at 11am as we were told, register and then asked to wait in the waiting area because ins hadn't approved this event. This wait goes pretty quick and we are taken back to outpatient he is prepared for surgery and goes to holding at 12:30 and then into surgery at 1:23. I don't here anything back until 5:58 when the dr comes to let me know what went on and the plan moving forward. You guessed it another lovely hospital overnight or rather 6. He has two wound vacs and a knee immobilizer now too. All goes well he starts feeling so much better and is moving very well. Wound vacs were to come out Sunday but didn't until Monday. He was to be discharged Tues and social services/ins. didn't get coordinated/approved. He is discharged on weds after he gets his antibiotics at 3pm and I have gone through the process to learn how to administer his antibiotics at home. Its really an easy process if you do there step by step method they provide. However, what I was taught with is not what we received to use but it all works the same I'm assuming. The main antibiotic is to be given every 12 hours and should take 90 min it has never gone that smoothly and never less than 3 hours. We called and were told to have them check his lines when we go for labs Monday 3/4. So long weekend continued with treatment as we were told: flush-alcohol wipe-flush-alcohol wipe-meds-alcohol wipe-flush-alcohol wipe-heprin-clamp. Every 12 hours and another antibiotic in picc line over a 10 minute push once a day.

Sunday Seth is super restless can't get comfortable enough to sleep not really in pain just can't get his body to be still and this goes on all night and when I leave for work Monday he is not settled but says he is ok just can't sleep. I work till 1pm come home to take him to our appt for labs for infection Dr and he is really acting off. I get him to focus and put him in bed to start his meds and then I go get Koop from school. When we get back he is back in the recliner acting very strange and doesn't really comprehend anything. bI called his mom over just to have another adult for back up. She tells him we need to go to the ER. He agrees and off we go.

We get to the ER he is triaged and taken back to a room where they start taking vitals and attempt labs. Several tries and by this time he is moving so much and not coherent they have 6 people holding him down. The dr asks if he can intubate so he can give meds to calm him so they can start IV. I say yes and Koop and I step out and are taken to another room in the ER. He codes they intubate and sedate, then get two IVs and foley cath in and bring him to the room we are in. The hospitalist comes in we answer a few questions. then he is moved to the CCU. Today, March 8, is day 5 of being sedated and on a ventilator. He is still on antibiotics, heart meds, Lovenox, Propofol, and now a feeding tube.

Tubes are everywhere, machines are beeping, other patients are verbally expressing their dislikes and pains and the Kleenex are too little. Every time I have to go to the restroom I have too leave the unit and get buzzed back in. I hate it here. Seth will be mad when he realizes where he is at and I can't wait to hear him fuss at me. I will never tell him to shut up or be quiet again this silence I am living is unbearable. Seth has also been unable to work through all of this and draw short term disability but that and his FMLA are coming to the end.

Thank you to all of my family, friends, enemies, and prayer warriors for lifting Seth and our family up in prayer. I will post updates when I can just please keep praying.