They Called Him "Mac"

Today's post is a long one, but it's a story I have to tell.

My sense of humor is on the back burner this time, but not for long. You may even get an idea of where it comes from

I did want to include this photo of a fan that is actually an advertisement for Tums!

My blog-friend Kenju over at JustaskJudy has a huge collection of these and I knew she would appreciate seeing it here!

hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

It was cold and overcast in Modesto that day that Mac presented through the ED doors via paramedic transport. February 20, 2000. He was a big man. Six feet tall and about two-hundred and forty pounds. Retired CHP lieutenant. Active in his local Masonic lodge. Married his high school sweetheart at 18. Had three grown kids and a slew of grandkids. Sixty-two years old. An artist. His name was Kendall Hall McAllister, but everyone who knew him called him Mac.

"WHO IS THIS?", shouted some guy in scrubs. "WE WEREN'T EXPECTING ANYBODY! PUT HIM IN THE HALLWAY.

Mac's wife thought they were putting him there to die.

ddd

Mac's trip to the ED had actually begun the night before as he was working on his Windows desktop. It was his turn to edit the fraternal organization's newsletter and it was nowhere on the computer. His wife said he became angry, almost to the point of being in a rage. Very odd behavior that did not stop.

Exasperated with this demonstration of frustration, she told him, "Mac, you have a stroke and I am shooting your computer!"

ddd

The next morning, Mac sat up and stretched, got out of bed, took about five steps to the bathroom and fell to the floor. He had no feeling or movement on his left side. None. As his wife ran to his side she heard one, muffled sentence:

"Don't shoot the computer."

ddd

Now Mac truly lived out in the "boonies", about an hour out of Yosemite, so the closest facility to him was in Merced. The medics proceeded there "Code Three". Most of Mac's family lived within an hour's drive and were at his beside when I came on the scene. All the hustle and bustle of lab work and CTs were done. I mean, what else are you going to do once a stroke has hit? Couldn't even consider TPA because it was hemorrhagic.

I saw your typical stroke victim. For all intents and purposes, Mac's left side was dead. Facial droop. No reflexes. Not one. Speech slurred because of the left sided facial paralysis but no expressive or receptive aphasia. And a surprisingly upbeat affect. When his wife said, quite seriously, "Mac, you've had a huge stroke and you can't move half of your body. Aren't you upset by that?" His answer: "Yeah, I didn't get my coffee this morning!"

ddd

The closest facility that specialized in neurology was in Modesto, and that is where Mac was transferred. Where they tried to put him in the hallway.

But let me give you some background about Mac's family. Three nurses: one trauma nurse, one ED nurse and one L&D nurse you would not want to meet in a dark hallway if things weren't perfect. The kind of family member the nurses all hate. She spoke to the nurse manager.

Mac had a room within five minutes. A private room.

Oh, and did I mention that prior to transport Mac had regained the use of his left side? All of it. A slight weakness remaining. That was all.

Doctor's Hospital in Modesto was such a bastion of neurological services that they had no beds on the neurology floor. So Mac was admitted to the oncology unit. A pretty, home-like unit where Mac developed severe headaches that were not medicated. And persistent vomiting. But he was alert and oriented. And not a neurologist in sight.

A neurologist had not even been consulted.

It seemed as if they were writing off this vibrant, active man.

This time it was the ED nurse family member who professionally, assertively and ever so extremely politely demanded a neurology consult. STAT.

A neurologist came, seemingly reluctantly, and examined Mac. He then looked at the CT of the head taken in Merced. His exact words were:

"If I had seen the x-ray before I had examined him I would have expected to see essentially a vegetable. The entire right side of his brain is essentially gone. The level of recovery I see is nothing short of a miracle."

Miracle. Not a word I hear neurologists throw around very often.

The family did the usual grilling. Question after question. It was pretty obvious that Mac's wife was not comprehending a single thing. Good thing the family was with her.

Especially when the "Social Worker" came up to her after Mac had been at the facility 48 hours and told her he was being transferred to a convalescent home. She lost it. Mac's brother called the ED nurse family member and repeated what was said.

In the world of hospitals there are two phrases that will chill the soul of a hospital administrator. One is "Standard of Care" and the other is "you are dumping this patient". The ED nurse ever so extremely politely advised the administrator of nurses that transfer to lesser care 48 hours after an acute brain infarct was not the standard of care in the state of California and that it appeared Mac was being dumped due to a lack of beds.

It seems that the "Social Worker" had spoken to the wrong family.

Oooops.

ddd

Mac did so well he was in rehab for only a week or so before going home. The first thing he did when he got home was find the newsletter on the computer that bedeviled him just a couple of weeks before! Then he wrote thank you letters to everyone who had sent cards and flowers. He drew some editorial cartoons and voted in a local election. He scooped cat litter and carried in wood. About the only thing the stroke left him with was a rather mellow affect and the need to talk. A lot. Especially on the phone to his kids. He had beaten the CVA.

ddd

On March 10, 2000, Mac's wife found him writhing on the bed, clutching his chest and complaining of being unable to breathe. He was pale and diaphoretic.

The medics came. There was no way in hell the family was going to allow him to be taken to Modesto. They requested Fresno.

He told his wife "I love you" at the door.

The ambulance drove the half-mile to meet the LifeFlight craft that would take him to the largest hospital in Fresno. Mac was lifted into the craft as one of his son in laws watched. Mac then removed his oxygen mask, crossed his legs, put his hands behind his head .....

......and coded.

ddd

They were still pumping on his chest when the family members from Fresno saw him taken off the LifeFlight. They worked at that facility.

ddd

Kendall Hall McAllister died of a massive pulmonary embolism.

He lived from January 31, 1938 to March 10, 2000.

They called him "Mac".

But I just called him "Dad".

And there isn't a day that goes by that I wouldn't give my life to have him back.

I love you, Dad.