Fifth Anniversary

Today is the fifth anniversary of my mom's passing of total renal failure at Providence Tarzana Medical Center about 24 hours following emergency surgery.

It is unreal to think that five years have now passed. It seems like time passes faster after a family member passes away. It is already fifteen years since my dad passed away of lymphoma. I still miss them both.

I remember the night my mom died like it was yesterday. One blessing about the way she passed away: she didn't have to languish for years in a nursing home. She basically died on her feet, she would have wanted it that way.

She is also missed every day by family and friends.

The photo below was taken of the San Gabriel Mountains on the day of her funeral at Riverside National Cemetery by my cousin Julie.

Getting Things Done

Yesterday, February 24 marked the 40th day since my mom's passing. How is that significant, you may ask? Well, in California, if a person doesn't name a beneficiary in their bank accounts, they are put on a 40-day hold. For some reason, my mom didn't name a beneficiary.

At 40 days, the executor or beneficiary (via the will) can to come in with a copy of the death certificate and file a notarized affidavit stating that the estate is under $100,000. Some banks may require a copy of the will, this one didn't.

It took a little time to get the paperwork processed and the bank management to approve everything, but it went smoother than I expected. In opening a new account, I made sure my daughter was named beneficiary. Besides her name and date of birth, they needed her social security number. I tried calling her but she was probably in class. Fortunately, she is on file with the bank for a student loan and they obtained the social security number from that. A lucky break!

I was able to draw out enough to pay off several of my mom's bills, including her credit cards, phone, newspaper and cable (it turns out I overpaid by $120, but they'll refund it). I think the only outstanding bill is probably the electric bill.

That out of the way, I did receive in the mail yesterday a breakdown of the Tarzana Medical Center hospital charges from Blue Shield and they exceeded $140,000. But, the notice indicated that at the time of the charges, my mom wasn't a member of Blue Shield. Huh?

Alarmed, I called them and they said not to worry, everything's been paid (Whew!) and I will expect to be billed or the co-pays for the hospitalization ($50/day) and paramedics ($100). That was a big relief!

Now, all I have to do is concentrate on getting the taxes done. I am concerned that I may not have all the documents to do a complete tax return for my mom. I guess if something turns up, I can always file an amended return. From the beginning, when we cleaned out her apartment, I kept all the important papers in one place.

I'll sure be glad when all this business stuff is settled and this emotional roller-coaster ends.

I am still having a hassle in getting my mom's rent deposit returned. But we're making progress there. The building management is worried that if they pay it, some bozo would come out of the woodwork making a claim. They are acting as if this involves thousands of dollars.

Today, I have to obtain the funds to reimburse my aunt for the loan for my mom's funeral and burial expenses.

It is a good feeling when things are actually getting done!

Beware of Axminster Medical Group!

In the weeks and months prior to my mom's passing, I was growing concerned over her care by her medical group, Axminster Medical Group.

This isn't the first time I've had a beef with Axminster. Another doctor with them, Stanley Golden, dithered while my dad's lymphoma flared up resulting in his death in December 1999. I wanted to pursue them then, but my mom said not to.

For years, she suffered hypertension (high blood pressure) and a weak kidney. She endured her ailments without complaint. She kept a positive attitude about things.

During the past year, her doctor, Max Shapiro, would have her in for regular check-ups. Early last year, a protein was detected in her system that seemed to indicate the beginning stages of myeloma, a blood cancer originating in the bone marrow. Shapiro had her go to different specialists for tests, some had differing conclusions. She underwent a colonoscopy earlier in the year. After this, she had what she described as gas pains. Shapiro told her to take Mylanta Gas pills. They'd provide temporary relief, but nothing would completely eliminate the pains. I mentioned the alleged myeloma to Tarzana Medical Center, and their response was, "Where'd they get that idea?"

Then she started dropping weight. She blamed a lot of her problems on the colonoscopy. Since then, I have read that there have been problems or side-effects caused by this procedure.

She was prescribed medicines to combat the proteins and bolster her kidneys. Her most recent check-up of her kidneys showed "nothing remarkable." She was sent to an oncologist for regular check-ups. Her last was on January 5. More on that in a moment.

More tests were run, but nothing definitive was found. During the summer, Shapiro went on a long vacation. Her next appointment was scheduled for September or October.

She would have an appetite, but found it more difficult to eat. Some foods agreed with her better than others. More and more weight was lost as the weeks went on. Shapiro was aware of this and allegedly was trying to find out the cause.

The day after Christmas, my mom made us turkey dinner. As she was finishing, she noted that her blood pressure was up and took her blood pressure medicine. This, she said, caused her to feel dizzy and weak. I had to finish making the dinner. She had to sit.

This went on for days thereafter. She thought the blood pressure pill was causing her weakness and dizziness. She barely was able to eat Cream of Wheat or Malt-O-Meal cereals.

My gut feelings were that these tests weren't coming up with anything, while my mom was getting weaker and weaker. And, getting thinner and thinner. I told her in early January that she should be admitted to a hospital to build her up and see what is going on with her digestive system. I started calling Shapiro at Axminister and left messages requesting action. Those calls were not returned.

On January 5, I took her to the oncologist, Lasika Seneviratne, located at the Good Samaritan Medical Center (where Robert F. Kennedy died in 1968). He examined her. During the examination, she told him that she has abdominal pains and was losing weight. He was alarmed over this. He contacted Shapiro and requested an urgent CAT scan. By "urgent," he meant as soon as possible. Shapiro said he would arrange for it. I told the oncologist that I have been having difficulty in getting a hold of Shapiro. I told him during the exam that I had left urgent messages and was not getting any return calls from Shapiro or anyone from his staff.

A day or two passed and we heard nothing from Shapiro's office concerning the CAT scan. I called the message service and left a message. This time, I did get a call back and the nurse said that the CAT scan was set for January 13 and that the authorization form was sent to us in the mail.

January 13?! The oncologist requested an urgent CAT scan on January 5. Eight days would pass before she would be getting the scan. Some urgency!

She was getting weaker and I was becoming more alarmed. Shapiro wasn't calling back. My cousin Maria and aunt Gloria came over to visit my mom January 9. My aunt was shocked at my mom's appearance. She was just skin and bones. I had left a message with Shapiro's office describing her appearance as someone from a Nazi concentration camp. That didn't generate a return call either.

My cousin Maria works for a medical company who has several hospitals. She knows the ins and outs of the medical industry. She asked me if I'd like to have her call Shapiro/Axminster (to see if she can get a response out of Shapiro). I told her that it may come to that. We were looking forward to the CAT scan set for Wednesday.

On Wednesday, January 13, the day of the CAT scan, I called my mom to ask her what time should we go for the CAT scan. She said she didn't feel up to going and that we'd need to re-schedule it. This set off a major alarm bell.

I went to my mom's to change her parakeet. She was very weak. I got a hold of Maria and told her that I think we should call paramedics. I asked her to try Shapiro. She did and reached his nurse. She said the nurse told her that we should go ahead to either ambulance her to Tarzana Medical Center or bring her to Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance or another hospital in Marina del Rey where Shapiro practices.

My mom was too weak to be taken by car. I opted for the paramedics taking her to Tarzana Medical Center instead.

The exploratory surgery on the night of January 13 found 16 feet of dead intestine and a dead gall bladder. No wonder she never gained weight and became weaker. The intestine was dead and unable to absorb food's nutrients into her system. It was virtually like sending down food through a plastic tube.

The rest is history.

To this date, I have not heard from either Max Shapiro or from Axminster medical group.

At this point, Amber, aunt and cousin want to pursue a malpractice action against Shapiro and Axminster. Maria feels we have a strong case. I am currently waiting for my cousin to prepare the form requesting my mother's medical records. An attorney friend recommended a medical malpractice attorney to me. As soon as the medical records are obtained, I will get them to the attorney for review for possible action.

The main question on this is: Had Shapiro and Axminster responded in a more timely and effective manner, would my mother still be alive? We discussed this and we unanimously agreed that the answer would be "yes." All the dithering by Shapiro and Axminster and the non-responses caused her death. She suffered due to their incompetence. They did not jump on the request by Dr. Seneviratne for an urgent CAT scan. Had she gotten the CAT scan within a day or two, the problem likely would have been found and treated. She could have a fighting chance and the sepsis could have been overcome. Days would have made the difference.

If anyone in the Los Angeles area goes to Axminster Medical Group, I would strongly suggest finding another medical group.

Beware of Axminster Medical Group!