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ECL213

(216 posts)
Fri Mar 13, 2020, 12:02 AM Mar 2020

My father died on 2/25/2020...

He had lung cancer that was under control thanks to immunotherapy and great doctors at The James, The Ohio State University’s cancer hospital. His doctor mentioned at his last immuno session, in early January, that he had a patient who travelled from China every three weeks for treatment. The doctor was worried about his patient, and the doctor’s own family in China, due to this new virus that was emerging.

Dad got heartburn that wouldn’t go away in late January. Nothing crazy, just annoying and it wouldn’t go away. Then he got nauseous in early February and spiked a fever. We decided to take him to the ER. They admitted him for observation.

His fever was up and down. His BP was up and down. His O2 level was up and down for a week. He threw up and aspirated a week in and they put him on a ventilator. Four days later they tried to take him off. He was congested and didn’t have the energy to cough it up, so back on the ventilator he went. He didn’t get better. Three days later we took him off the ventilator and his meds. He snored away for another two days until he passed.

Two weeks in the hospital with no diagnosis. He was tested for the flu. Negative. He was scanned for infection. Nothing. No bacterial pneumonia. No lasting fever, yet they insisted it had to be an infection somewhere. I asked about this new virus in China. “No, we’ve checked for everything.”

Did they? Did they even have a test available here at that point?

He was 83. He was a great Dad. I miss him. I wonder why he died. I worry for my family.

34 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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My father died on 2/25/2020... (Original Post) ECL213 Mar 2020 OP
I am so sorry for your loss. MLAA Mar 2020 #1
Hugs to you and your family. lunatica Mar 2020 #2
My father died in August and it was very similar. LisaM Mar 2020 #3
I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope you and the ones close to you take care of yourself now. Maraya1969 Mar 2020 #4
I wish we had a grief and loss forum here on DU. Maru Kitteh Mar 2020 #14
I think we do. Check this link OhNo-Really Mar 2020 #17
Hey! Thanks for that. Maru Kitteh Mar 2020 #20
I am so so sorry for your loss irisblue Mar 2020 #33
So sorry for your loss Meowmee Mar 2020 #5
I'm very sorry for your loss. brer cat Mar 2020 #6
I'm so sorry Demovictory9 Mar 2020 #7
I think you have good reason to question what it was. HarlanPepper Mar 2020 #8
My deepest sympathies, ECL PlanetBev Mar 2020 #9
So sorry for your loss. wendyb-NC Mar 2020 #10
Did they do CT scans? X-rays? COVID usually has a different appearance Maru Kitteh Mar 2020 #11
Hurts to lose a Dad... much sympathy. n/t TygrBright Mar 2020 #12
When you are up for it, do try to get the records. Dem2theMax Mar 2020 #13
So sorry to read you lost your Dad CountAllVotes Mar 2020 #15
I'm so sorry for your loss. EllieBC Mar 2020 #16
So sorry.... Talitha Mar 2020 #18
My dad died about a year ago (March 29, 2019) BigmanPigman Mar 2020 #19
it's heartbreaking when the people we love die orleans Mar 2020 #21
So very sorry for your loss. RestoreAmerica2020 Mar 2020 #22
Thanks for sharing your story. You are not alone. KY_EnviroGuy Mar 2020 #23
I'm so sorry Raine Mar 2020 #24
I'm sorry for your loss OhioChick Mar 2020 #25
I am so sorry. dewsgirl Mar 2020 #26
I am so very sorry DarthDem Mar 2020 #27
Sounds textbook for Corona. I'm so sorry 😐. nt live love laugh Mar 2020 #28
My deepest sympathy. sinkingfeeling Mar 2020 #29
I am very sorry for the loss of your father. N/T CottonBear Mar 2020 #30
So sad malaise Mar 2020 #31
so sorry for your lost mshasta Mar 2020 #32
I am so so sorry for your loss irisblue Mar 2020 #34

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
2. Hugs to you and your family.
Fri Mar 13, 2020, 12:11 AM
Mar 2020

It does sound like he had the symptoms of the Coronavirus. If he did please be sure to monitor yourself and the rest of your family.

It’s so sad he passed the way he did.

LisaM

(27,830 posts)
3. My father died in August and it was very similar.
Fri Mar 13, 2020, 12:13 AM
Mar 2020

He was having heart issues and when they tested for a valve replacement, they found numerous cancer spots. They found a mass of blood and undigested food in his stomach that led to an inability to eat and caused aspiration. Ultimately they found markers for stage four colon cancer. He just couldn't battle it all.

So I get your worries but what you described was so much like what I witnessed last summer with my dad that I wanted to share that. There may have been nothing you could do.

I am sorry for your loss.

Maraya1969

(22,495 posts)
4. I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope you and the ones close to you take care of yourself now.
Fri Mar 13, 2020, 12:20 AM
Mar 2020

My mom died on 2/20, 5 days before your dad. Losing a parent is tough. Mom was sick for a very long time but even so I wailed out in grief.



Maru Kitteh

(28,342 posts)
14. I wish we had a grief and loss forum here on DU.
Fri Mar 13, 2020, 12:56 AM
Mar 2020

I think it would be helpful to many, myself included.

Meowmee

(5,164 posts)
5. So sorry for your loss
Fri Mar 13, 2020, 12:24 AM
Mar 2020
You can ask for the records to see what they tested for. Ask for his whole case records. You have pay to print them out. We did that years ago with my mom because they messed up everything.
 

HarlanPepper

(2,042 posts)
8. I think you have good reason to question what it was.
Fri Mar 13, 2020, 12:34 AM
Mar 2020

This is a very sad story. I’m sorry for him and for what you have gone through.

PlanetBev

(4,104 posts)
9. My deepest sympathies, ECL
Fri Mar 13, 2020, 12:36 AM
Mar 2020

It is so hard to lose your dad.

Please take care of yourself in this difficult time. 💐

Maru Kitteh

(28,342 posts)
11. Did they do CT scans? X-rays? COVID usually has a different appearance
Fri Mar 13, 2020, 12:49 AM
Mar 2020

compared to other pneumonias.

https://www.medicaldevice-network.com/news/coronavirus-ct-scans/

I'm really sorry about your Dad. I lost my mom not so long ago, and it still hurts terribly.

Dem2theMax

(9,653 posts)
13. When you are up for it, do try to get the records.
Fri Mar 13, 2020, 12:52 AM
Mar 2020

Maybe it will give you some answers to some questions. Somewhere down the line that maybe of help to you as you go through your grief.

My dad passed in 2012, and there are still things I wonder about. If only this, if only that. I know nothing can be changed. And I have made peace with most of it.
But I do know that if I had had the opportunity, I would have asked for records to see what I could figure out. Because they didn't know what was wrong with my dad either. And it was lung issue related.

On a totally personal note, I am profoundly sorry for your loss. Anyone who says they had a great dad, I know what they mean. Mine was priceless. I miss him everyday. He was my best friend. But I'm so lucky he was my dad.

Stay close to family and friends, surround yourselves with your love for each other and your love for your dad.

It hurts like hell right now, but I promise that in time, that pain will start to recede into the background, and all the memories and the love will come forward.

Please take care of you. We are all here for you.

CountAllVotes

(20,878 posts)
15. So sorry to read you lost your Dad
Fri Mar 13, 2020, 01:01 AM
Mar 2020

I don't blame you for wanting answers!

You deserve to know what the truth of the matter was.

That is very tragic and sad scenario.

It is real common to feel extra angry after a loved one dies.

I hope you can find some peace.


I wish you the best and please take care.

BigmanPigman

(51,626 posts)
19. My dad died about a year ago (March 29, 2019)
Fri Mar 13, 2020, 01:22 AM
Mar 2020

and I still cry all the time since it was completely unexpected and he was healthy as a horse at 85. I keep wanting to ask him his advice on all matters. It hurts.

orleans

(34,073 posts)
21. it's heartbreaking when the people we love die
Fri Mar 13, 2020, 01:44 AM
Mar 2020

i'm really sorry for what happened to your dad.

and i understand how you would wonder about the true cause of death. i would too.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,494 posts)
23. Thanks for sharing your story. You are not alone.
Fri Mar 13, 2020, 03:12 AM
Mar 2020

Like you, this is an extremely painful time for me and my family, as I lost my wife of 54 years last October and it was an unnecessary death (long story). In addition, I lost the very best friends of my life outside of family in the summer and another great one in the winter - a wonderful blind fellow across the street. Then, my son lost a friend to drug overdose last month and a guy down the street committed suicide in his house. When life rains, it pours.

My kids and I are just beginning to cope with our loss and my son wants to get all the hospital and specialist's records during her treatment and hospitalization. We will eventually do that and I know it will be painful but should help with closure. We considered pursuing a malpractice investigation but after talking to an attorney about it, decided it probably would not lead to anything positive.

I did find out that we have the right to get a copy of my wife's hospital records and that the hospital (Baptist) is required by law to hold a review meeting with us for a case review and to answer questions we may have. I'm speaking out of school here, but your dad's hospital may have retained cultures taken during his illness that could still be evaluated for COVID-19 virus.

Wasn't meaning to trouble you with my pain, but it occurred to me how this coronavirus ordeal can make other suffering take a temporary back seat, especially when we have friends and loved ones to help protect and hold close. For me, that's a son (now in college), a daughter (school teacher) and son-in-law, a beautiful 13 YO granddaughter and a few friends.

I'm so grateful we have DU to share our trials of life and help each other survive........

dewsgirl

(14,961 posts)
26. I am so sorry.
Fri Mar 13, 2020, 04:13 AM
Mar 2020

Did anyone around your dad also get sick?
I highly doubt they tested for it, the respiratory symptoms sound spot on.

mshasta

(2,108 posts)
32. so sorry for your lost
Fri Mar 13, 2020, 08:51 PM
Mar 2020

all I can said is that for your father the fight is over in a very painful way and for you is just getting started.

my most sincere condolences.

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