Saturday, February 23, 2008

We know a little more now

We now know a little more about what made my father so sick recently. It wasn't his body giving up to infection or his immune system from cancer. It was a very serious infection he received from tainted products that were purchased from China~tainted heparin and saline pre-filled flush syringes carrying contamination for Serratia marcescens, a deadly bacteria with the potential to cause serious injury, or even death. Back in December all medical facilities were notified to pull these from the shelves. Initially it was thought that it was just a few batches of the flush syringes in a few states were contaminated but now the blood infection is popping up all over the United States in alarming numbers, not only making people with already compromised immune systems seriously sick, but also killing people. It appears that the dialysis center that my father goes to did not adhere to the orders to remove these and months after the recall, they were still using them. When we asked them about it, they assured us they were no longer using those syringes, however, my father got sick with this deadly bacteria only a few weeks ago and he is still fighting for his life. This is so widespread, I can't even tell you how big this is. I did a search for "tainted heparin syringes" and I pulled up pages and pages and pages of results regarding this recent contamination. There are lawsuits being filed and people who were using these products to help them are dying from the very thing that was supposed to keep them alive.

4 comments:

Debbie Gaydos said...

Oh Carrie... how awful! You must all be so angry. It's enough that he is going through what he is, but to find out that it could have been avoided... how infuriating! (((HUGS)))

Colleen said...

Carrie that is just terrible. I can't even begin to think what this must be doing to all of you. I will still continue to keep all of you in my prayers.

Regina said...

OMG! How scary that is and frustrating too. To think that it could have been avoided. I will continue to keep all of you in my prayers

Carrie said...

Hi, Carrie, it's Carrie. I've been trying to locate you on and off for a few years--ever since you left Ride Connection. I just googled you and came upon your blog and recognized you and Jovanna from photos you'd showed me from your scrapbooking years ago.

I'd love to hear more about how you're doing. I can get some of this from your blog, but would really like to hear your voice. Can you call me at 503-771-0809?

I'm also hoping to be able to use your name on something grant related. I need contact info and would like to drop it off tomorrow, May 20th. Nothing like finding you at the last minute!

Carrie