grizzlyzone | Adventures in Paradise - Part 22 (UPDATE 2) (Reply)

I got into work a bit early last night, and was chatting with

truckerbear on the phone. Suddenly, another call came in. It was Stacy, from the nursing home.

Stacy told me that Dominic had been transferred from the hospital to the nursing home and that once he got to the nursing home, he passed away. She asked me to wait so I could speak to the nurse.

According to the nurse, the paramedics were called, Dominic was resuscitated and he was sent back to the Hospital. Huh?

So, he passed away, right?

He wasn't doing too well. He was sent back to the hospital. We have no information as to how he's doing.

I couldn't get an answer out of her. I think he passed away, but since I'm not "fambly" and don't have POA (power of attorney), HIPAA rules and regulations prevent her from telling me anything. Or, at least, that's the theory.

UPDATE 1

Now, about this time, everything breaks into sheer pandemonium. I tell the day shift that Dominic has passed and to stay put and I'll be back to relieve them in a few minutes. I need to call Woody. Of course, everyone wants to know the particulars, but I can't tell them a thing.

I try dialing home. No answer. (WTF?) I just left him fifteen minutes ago!

One of my co-workers has come over and is volunteering to work a few extra hours so I can go home. (He's already put in 13 hours.) I politely decline.

I try dialing home. No answer. (WTF?) I try dialing home. No answer. (WTF?) I try dialing his cell. No answer. (WTF?) I try dialing home about a dozen times. No answer. (WTF?) I try dialing his cell. No answer. (WTF?)

truckerbear knows none of this. He sends me text messages asking if my phone died. I text him back telling him "Dominic died". I've tried calling Woody on his cell. No answer. At home. No answer. And, at this point, the stress is really getting to me. Why isn't he answering?

One of my co-workers is again volunteering to work a few extra hours so I can go home. I politely decline. I know he's trying to be kind, but...

I finally get a hold of the other roommate on his cell. He's at the grocery. I try to break it to him gently, but he is stunned.

With that task accomplished, I start my thirteen hour shift.

UPDATE 2

We drive over to Duke University Medical Center in the morning, wait in line at Information and... ? They have no record of Dominic. - And, might I add they pronounce it 'Dominique'.

So, they have us go over to the house phone, dial '4-1-1' and ask for "Deceased Services" and...? They have no record of Dominic. - And, might I add they pronounce it 'Dominique'.

So, they have us walk down a long hall, go outside the building, go over to the Duke University Hospital Emergency Trauma Center entrance, go through Security and... ? They know where Dominic is - and, might I add they pronounce it 'Dominique' - he's on the eighth floor (ICU) in room 8204.

So, we go outside the building, back into the back entrance, down a long hall, back to the main lobby and tell 'Keshia' at the Information booth that he's in 8204. Then, it's up to the eighth floor, into the 8200 wing, through the electric doors, and we are there.

You are supposed to sign in at the nurses' station.

Ah. It was all all that sign that wasn't there.

Go back to the waiting room and we will come get you.

We see Dominic. He's heavily sedated. Intubated.

The resident comes by. He was discharged to the nursing home when he had some sort of crash. His sugar/blood pressure/oxygenation/heart rate were all low and he ws unresponsive. They brought him back to the ER.

He was being treated for some sort of spinal infection, and he's "stable". They haven't given us very much info.

He's NOT dead.