The joy of a man who managed to overcome COVID-19 despite suffering from lung cancer has been clouded by the abandonment of his family who, apparently, can not be held responsible due to the condition in which he is.
Two years ago, Giovanni José Fuentes Charris, father of a young man between the ages of 20 and 25 and who was a street vendor, was diagnosed with lung cancer that metastasized and spread to his brain, leaving sequelae on the motor part. , seizures and speech disorders, according to the intensivist doctor at the Barranquilla Hospital, Luis Pérez, where he is being held.
Approximately 18 days ago, the 59-year-old man arrived at the hospital in an ambulance with respiratory distress and oxygenation in the blood below the levels, among other discomforts, so his hospitalization was necessary.
“He was convulsing, with that it was discovered that he had metastases, which are secondary tumor lesions. When looking for the primary tumor, it was found to be pulmonary, that is what they refer to in the admission history, ”said Pérez.
When Giovanni arrived at the Barranquilla Hospital, he required oxygen, but due to the fact that the users’ peak was there, access to an ICU bed was difficult.
Due to the symptoms that he had presented previous weeks of general discomfort, fever and pain, they began treatment as a COVID-19 suspect, while obtaining the test result, which returned positive after six days.
“From the beginning we managed it with the treatment for COVID-19, in addition to everything he had he also had a process of infection in the urine and he underwent treatment. Little by little, he improved, he did not have a fever, his oxygen requirements were lowered until they were completely suspended, ”explained the intensivist.
Given the improvement, from the first week of July, the medical staff and the intensivist communicated to his son – the man’s only family – about the possible departure in the next few days of Giovanni, to which the young man replied that he could not have him in his home due to the diagnosis of coronavirus, according to the intensivist doctor.
On July 8 the decision was made to discharge Giovanni and since then there has been no response from his son to take over the man.
“The last time I contacted the family member was two days before giving him an exit and the week before I told him that we were already thinking of an exit and he told me that at that moment he could not have it and he did not appear again. We have been calling him with the social work and psychology part, but he has not appeared, “said the specialist.
Because of the abandonment, the nursing assistants – whom Peréz recognizes as “angels” – have taken over all of Giovanni’s attentions, such as bathing him, feeding him, which requires dedication due to his condition, and to buy him diapers you need.
In this situation, the medical personnel of the hospital made a call to the Mayor’s Office and the entities that are part of the social care to help Giovanni, who is abandoned and requires basic care and attention, and must also continue with medical oncology check-ups. .
“We call for collaboration with a reception center where they can assist you, a wheelchair for your travel, because the therapies are in charge of the insurance company. He must continue in controls, it strikes me that the cancer has not progressed despite the fact that he had COVID-19, so he can get ahead ”, concluded Pérez.
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