I really like Kaysey Chambers...if any one can find a copy of her singing This Flower(or the flower) - which is a love song for her mother ahhh..



She sang along with Slim Dusty not too long before he died ... its called Waltzing Matilda...its something... not your normal matilda song

Just to lighten things up a bit...

Five new "Quick Whipped up faeries" for those who visit the other blog... doing them some times has been a real life saver, but would do them anyway ... I have plans for some of them when things settle down a bit... but for now, just for fun

Article in Easter Sunday's Sunday Telegraph.
Its a shocker of a photo, but I is what I is. A friend said "you look so sad" which no doubt fits the story. t is a sad story, but at the moment that was taken the old doggie Thorn was sniffing at the cameraman's case (he had a dog at home too) which held some very expensive cameras and I was "concerned" that there may be some immediate "damage" done to it...

A shattering day today with the Health Inquiry and ABC (local) radio did a very good interview which I was pleased with. I have worked really hard for the slightest bit of public exposure of Don's death so that they will have to acknowledge what really happened even if only by shaming them, so anything that is offered or comes to me from this hard work is welcomed. I will know when to stop as I have known when to act...


"The Sunday Telegraph Edition 1 - StateSUN 23 MAR 2008, Page 038

He died in agony - Wife accuses hospital of killing husband

By health writer CLAIR WEAVER
DON Mackay spent the last five weeks of his life with his arms tied to a hospital bed, whispering ``help me'' and valiantly trying to chew through breathing tubes so he could die with dignity.

The 57-year-old quadriplegic, who was admitted to Royal North Shore Hospital for a simple lung drain and biopsy, died after a series of alleged blunders that left him in agony and struggling to breathe.

Ten months on, his widow Therese is demanding an inquest into his harrowing death.Mrs Mackay will recount her husband's ordeal to the special commission into the NSW public health system at Port Macquarie on Friday.She says she wants to get justice for him and to prevent his fate befalling anyone else.

Her husband, who became a quadriplegic after a work accident 25 years ago, was an active North Coast public health campaigner.``My husband had an exceptional life; that's why he deserves this,'' Mrs Mackay said.

The day after Mr Mackay was admitted to Royal North Shore, he underwent a ``dangerous and unnecessary'' surgery called pleurodosis.According to Mrs Mackay, he did not have proper tests and scans beforehand. A transcription error caused his right lung to be suctioned at ten times the vacuuming power it should have been for almost 24 hours without staff noticing, she said.Mrs Mackay alleges that staff were ``grossly negligent''.

She told of seeing a nurse drop a piece of equipment on the floor before picking it up and putting it back in her husband's mouth. Days later, he had developed golden staph and pneumonia.

Mrs Mackay believes her husband was kept alive unnecessarily for a ``horror-filled'' five weeks in intensive care. She told of being haunted by ``dreadful images'' of him bloated with infection, sepsis and fluid and in respiratory arrest with his lungs drowning in bloody mucus.

The Health Care Complaints Commission is investigating his case and Mrs Mackay expects to find out whether the NSW Coroner's office will open an inquest on May 2.

A spokesperson from Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service said: ``Royal North Shore Hospital's Dr Philip Hoyle has expressed the hospital's regret at Mrs Mackay's distress over her husband's treatment''.


Caption: Demanding answers: Therese Mackay says hospital mistakes cost her husband his lifeIllus: PhotoSection: LOCAL"
Photo Nathan Edwards

"Lookin' out my back door"




Saw this "Last Snake of Summer" (I hope), first right up against my back door (the main entrance and exit point), winding all about the dog's water bowls. It was in no hurry at all which is why I had time to get camera after



shutting the door. These bewdies are not as poisonous as the King Browns, being Red bellied black snakes but I have seen the result of a bite on a man's arm where his whole forearm was deeply scarred...because of tissue necrosis... they can make you awful sick...

usually I can live with these fellows and just make a lot of noise and crash about...they soon leave... but this one was quite belligerent at times and as much as like to live and let live I have been very worried about the dog...




I am buying myself a big pair of gum boots because I have to poke about behind all that water cleaning water filters and maintaining the water pump etc (we are on tank water) and thats just where the snake finally after about a good hour went to.









I admit to throwing every shoe I owned in his direction...not to hit him but to make it uncomfortable...left the shoes there for a while...







I almost lost my lovely dog on Thursday under the wheels of a very slow moving car. There was a very old friend coming to visit and I happened to be in our front paddock as he came along our road... the old dog beat me to the car but I got the driver to sop till I could get a hold of him. Thorn runs closely around cars which come onto our land, but not when he's walking down the street...its a guarding thing, but he's older and slower now...although he doesn't know that.

I had him round the back of the car and was going to walk him away but bugger me the old guy started driving again before I could get clear and the dog went beresk and jerked out of my hold (we don't keep a collar on him our here as he doesn't wander and he has a huge lump on his neck which a collar rubs...so I just had a hold onto the hair of his neck.)









The dog ran in close round the car and the front bumper knocked him over (he's a big dog) but the old man didn't seem to be able to make himself stop and kept idling forward...it seemed to be so slow that it happened.


I got in front of the car so he couldn't go any further and thank god I did because here was the dog under his driver's wheel with his skin pinched just under the tyre, which would have in just a little more rotation crushed his ribs.

I still feel sick about it. He is such a lovely loyal old gentleman of a dog and deserves a kind ending, not something like that.


All the damage was some fur off and a bit of skin when he was pushed along the gravel, and a total look of disgust back at the car.

I watched him closely after the vet felt him all about...listening for any extra coughing etc but he seems fine and he is still with me...I can't stop patting him when I go past...he must wonder whats going on - or not...maybe like a dog he just accepts.

Petition and leaflet mainly for Australians...will appreciate any help in getting this about. The leaflet is similiar to what I posted earlier but have edited it down and changed things for clarity... am done with it now. Don't feel obliged to read the whole if you've read it before... its after the petition.

Have already done a big mail out and there will be a full page add soon in all local papers...

Still waiting for my computer to be fixed, hence I haven't done much posting...I find this keyboard really awkward and seem to hit the wrong keys constantly but thank goodness I have Don's computer (which feels very strange...its like opening a time capsule into his life) ...his last entries just the day before he went to hospital... Easter Sunday last year was in April and it was the best day, just the two of us and he was so tired from lack of oxygen, that we just had a home day... Then on the Tuesday after lunch we went to PMBH and then to Sydney

Anyhow I had some excellent news yesterday from the Sydney Sunday telegraph's health reporter (I sent out my material to about 50 different media organisations - found a great site) and they are definitely (unless the Queen dies or summat) covering it this Sunday...even had the Tele's own photographer around here this morning...he does from Taree to the Qld border and inland... (feel like a filumm star) so there will be good coverage. I have to admit to savouring the moment when those responsible for direct cruelty to Don open their Sunday paper (or are handed one) and see our faces and remember and know I don't give up. I know what they thought of Don and have no doubt at of what little consequence they thought he and I were. I hope they are scared shitless just for the moment wondering what else may be coming and I admit to liking this small victory. Knowing they will suffer , just a bit of a stomach lurch which will absolutely wreck their peace of mind on Easter Sunday well you have to take your pleasure from whence it comes.

I will be away 1st, 2nd and 3rd April - that's when Carmel and I go a protesting outside NSW Parliament ha ha...you should see the 31 poster sized (laminated) placards I have made...they are impressive. I have linked them with little cable ties so they can be leant along the front fence of Parliament... some of them (11) are in the form of the timeline of Don's life...starting with his baby photos where he's throwing snowballs up until the last days and then his headstone...with the theme of "What price for his life" the others are strong worded and have a large photo or two of him...we will be handing out petitions and leaflets...both houses sit on that day...


Below is the Petition we are taking to Parliament (NSW) April 2nd. This is probably only really relevant to Australians, or those likely to visit...that could be anyone because if you visit and get sick you too can go to Royal North Shore Hospital.

There is a leaflet which goes with this which is added below. If you want to print this out or just forward it to whoever that would be appreciated. It should fit on an A4. Also the leaflet beow the petition which goes with the form it fits on 2 A4\s (or front and back.) Any help appreciated.

I will get back to other things sooner than later but right now its all stops out and just having to make the best of the days into the lead up. Am giving evidence again (for 15 mins) into yet another Go. inquiry re hospitals...but one day the straw that breaks the camel'

Petition

Donald William Mackay’s cruel death cries out for justice.

This time Silence is not dignity.

We the undersigned residents of and visitors to NSW request that the NSW State Premier and Health Minister ­ begin a full, independent and open investigation into the surgery, treatment, care and subsequent death of Donald William Mackay, as a result of the five weeks he spent in Royal North Shore Hospital between 11^th April 2007 and 17^th May 2007 (the day he died). We ask that those responsible if found culpable then be subject to disciplinary action. Our reasons are briefly – A RNSH Internal Investigation into Donald Mackay’s hospitalization and death, signed by RNSH’s Dr Hoyle who in writing, admitted many failures in Donald Mackay’s care; such failures, which we believe led directly to his death after five weeks of unimaginable suffering.

Name (Print)	Address	Signature

As the initiator of this petition, my name is Mrs. Therese Mackay on behalf of the Mackay family and I can be contacted on 0265839622/ mob 0417279602 for further information in relation to this matter.
Please return petitions by 17 May 2008 to The Mackay Family P.O. Box 248 Port Macquarie NSW 2444. Please feel free to copy and circulate.

the leaflet which goes with this is below

Royal North Shore Hospital Shame.

Donald William Mackay’s cruel death cries out for justice.

On behalf of Don my husband of thirty-five years, our daughters, and myself, I request authorities begin an independent, open investigation into the surgery, treatment, care and subsequent death of Donald William Mackay. His death was a direct result of five weeks he spent in RNSH between 11^th April 2007 and 17^th May 2007 (the day he died). I request that the Cardiothoracic surgeon and team, the Spinal Ward doctors and nurses who ignored my husband’s worsening condition receive disciplinary action because of their negligence, which led to Don’s first Respiratory Arrest and inability to come off ventilation. ICU and Cardio Thoracic Specialists who withheld full disclosure of his condition from us should receive disciplinary action. Their non-disclosure led to Don being subjected to unnecessary torture, which lasted five long weeks. I request that the filthy practices and deplorable conditions he endured without choice in ICU be exposed. Legally, ethically, why and how are the medical practitioners protected from criminal charges?

This could happen to your loved one or yourself. I have no reason to think it has not since my husband’s criminal mistreatment inside RNSH.

1. My husband, Don Mackay had been a Quadriplegic for 25 years. On 11/4/07, he arrived at RNSH at 10pm from Port Macquarie. It was not an emergency. A doctor whose English was limited signed him up for the surgery within the hour that night. He cannot recall what he told my husband about that surgery. Why?

2. The next morning as I was driving from Port Macquarie, Don was being given dangerous and unnecessary surgery (Pleurodesis)

3. How could RNSH’s Cardio Thoracic surgeon just “assume” Don had been examined, by a cardiothoracic specialist in Port Macquarie? This was unprofessional.

4. There was no ECG prior to surgery although he had Pericardial Effusion. Why was that?

5. He had neither blood tests nor any pathology. How can they justify this?

6. The Admitting Cardio Thoracic Specialist who was also the surgeon saw no X-rays or Scans prior to surgery. (They were still in Port Macquarie Base Hospital.) What was going on?

7. The review by the Anaesthetist is admitted by RNSH to be “limited”. He was not seen before theatre. Limited why? Don had complicated medical problems and required proper assessment.

8. The Cardio Thoracic surgeon had not seen Don before Theatre and had not done a detailed examination. The person who signed him up the night before was not part of the surgical team. No one knew anything about his multiple conditions before surgery. How irresponsible and dangerous was that?

9. Ungraded Talc known to be connected to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (which Don developed) was used. Since his death, they no longer use this. They were aware it was linked to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Why was it used? Was it cheaper?

10. My husband’s right lung was meant to be suctioned until all the fluid was removed at the gentle suction of 3KPA. RNSH admit that a transcription error caused his lung to be suctioned (vacuumed) at 10 times that value at 31KPA. This was left like that for almost 24 hours and was not spotted by Cardiothoracic Doctors, and the Spinal Unit’s nurses till 8am the next day. All RNSH staff involved are culpable.

11. Cardiothoracic were ignorant of “Quadriplegic breathing” which makes it harder to breathe while sitting up when there are problems. They ordered him sat up in his wheelchair. He rapidly deteriorated. I begged the Spinal Nurse to return him to bed she refused. He suffered three hours of extreme torture trying to breathe against gravity. He had a Respiratory arrest that night. Why were they all so ignorant of his condition?

12. Cardiothoracic should have known not to sit up someone with suctioning of the lungs in progress as this can cause the Pleurodesis surgery to fail and can lead to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. This happened. Why did they allow this?

13. It is the responsibility of the surgeon to see that all procedures pre and post surgery are followed. Almost none of the regular procedures were followed. There is no excuse for this?

14. Spinal nurses, Doctors, and Cardiothoracic were grossly negligent over the next days. He was treated badly as his condition became dangerous. He began to hallucinate and gasp for breath. This was extreme cruelty and shocking for him to experience.

15. On the night of the first of his respiratory arrests, he called my name for three hours according to his roommate and THEY DID NOTHING. I was five minutes away and had given them instructions to call me at any time if he needed me or things got worse.

The next five weeks in RNSH’s Intensive Care Unit were horror-filled. I cannot these get these dreadful images out of my head. I try to see him as he was before their negligence allowed him to be filled with infection, sepsis, fluid and God knows what. I cannot. I see my beloved husband tied and gagged by tubes. Both lungs drowning and full of fluid. MRSA and Klebsiellia Pneumoniae filled them with bloody mucus. I still see him with his tongue being forced painfully in and out, as he reached yet another respiratory arrest. One time he was breathing 50 breaths per minute. He was so frightened and I could not help him. An ICU nurse stood and did nothing. “I think he’s trying to talk”, she said blithely. AN ICU NURSE! It went on like this for five weeks. I feel like I have been in a war zone.

What I have relayed here is just the tip of the iceberg as to the dreadful suffering inflicted upon Don. Finally, he was allowed his wish, which was simply to get out of the filth and chaos, go home and die. Even then, after all they had done to him, it depended on conforming to their demand that the home respirator be taken away as soon as he got home. Apparently, there was not one other home respirator in RNSH or at Port Macquarie or anywhere else in the Northern Areas’ Health Service. Why was this?

It was a death caused by gross negligence, ignorance, stupidity, arrogance, filth and cost cutting. I should not have to be chasing justice on behalf of my husband, daughters and myself. Those responsible should be prosecuted and or receiving disciplinary action for killing my husband Don Mackay and robbing our daughters of their wonderful Dad. Those most responsible should not be still practising inside Royal North Shore Hospital. It would be better for NSW residents if they were not in the health system at all.

Royal North Shore Hospital buries its mistakes.

The Mackay Family. PO Box 248 Port Macquarie 2444 NSW.

Boo Hoo Hooo...Sob *#!''. I think my hard drive has crashed... I backed up last day of Dec...I think I am going to cry really hard. I will get the verdict on Tuesday. I have Don's computer which I can use.... but its very emotional going through his things...I noticed that the last backup he did was the day before he went to hospital in April... it seems really odd sitting here at his little keyboard. The bench was specifically designed for his height in the wheelchair, which means I almost need a six inch rise to get my fingies properly on the keyboard...

I can still blog but have no email access except through travellers mail which is limited...

I know its not the end of the world,,, and we\ve all been there and done that...

When I said "Nooooo" on the phone to the mechanic guy, he said calmly, "Well it is just a machine...they don't go forever"

On about April 2nd

when both houses of the NSW Parliament are sitting, I intend going down to Sydney with a swag of placards, some flyers and a petition (yes I do know petitions are not worth the paper they are written on but they get publicity). I am hoping to launch my petition with an MP who has been helpful. Also I will be buying advertising space in our local papers and if I can afford to in the Daily telegraph, advertising my action, petition and contact.

My aim is to shame the Government into taking some real investigative action. I am not wanting to drag the kids into this unless they offer as it is a very bad time of the year for us all. Today is the first anniversary of the day Don's lung was first drained in our small local hospital. We were sent home in the pouring rain at about 5.30 in the afternoon... and we thought that was rough after having his lungs compromised. Thank God none of us knows the future.

One or two of you out there may have some editing skills, be better than I at spotting repetition etc. The flyer below will be front and back A4...it will have three small pictures on it...(they are too strong for you lot of good people and not needed that you see them).

Any suggestions in re wording the draft will be apreciated. It will be laid out in dot point form etc. Some of you will have read a similar post as I made this from one of my previous posts...this has been edited as far as I can... but needs more I know.
Draft flyer
Royal North Shore Hospital Shame.

Please tell me why my husband’s death is still unpunished and not prosecuted?

On behalf of my husband of thirty-five years Don Mackay, our two daughters and myself, I would like someone in authority to begin action NOW to stop the Cardio Thoracic Surgeon and team from doing to anyone else what they did to my husband.

I would like to see the Spinal Ward Nurses and Intern who ignored my husband’s worsening condition prosecuted because of their criminal negligence of my husband which along with Cardio Thoracic’s dangerous mistakes led to his first Respiratory Arrest, and inability to come off ventilation.

I would like to see the ICU Specialists and Cardio Thoracic Specialists who withheld from us full disclosure of his irreversible condition which they were aware of and allowed him to be subjected him to a torture which lasted five long weeks, prosecuted.

I would like to see that the filthy practices and deplorable conditions and he endured without choice in ICU are exposed.

This could happen to your loved one or yourself and I have no reason to think it hasn’t since my husband’s criminal mistreatment and killing at the hands of RNSH staff.

1. My husband, Don Mackay had been a Quadriplegic for 25 years. He arrived at RNSH 11/4/07 at 10pm. He was signed up for surgery within the hour by a doctor whose English, we had trouble understanding at a later conference and who now can’t recall what he told my husband about the surgery. Why is that?

2. Don was given dangerous and unnecessary surgery (Pleurodesis) the next morning as I was driving from Port Macquarie. Why was that?

3. He had never seen a Cardiothoracic specialist before surgery. (The surgeon “assumed” he had). The surgeon was unprofessional. Why is that?

4. He had no ECG although he has a moderate Pericardial Effusion (2006 diagnosed) The surgeon again was unprofessional. Why was that?

5. He had neither blood tests nor any pathology. The surgeon again was unprofessional. Why was that?

6. The Surgeon saw no X rays or Scans (they were in Port Macquarie Base Hospital. The surgeon again was unprofessional. Why was that?

7. The review by the Anaesthetist is admitted by RNSH to be “limited”. He was not seen before theatre. The surgeon is responsible to see all procedures have been followed, again was unprofessional. Why was that?

8. The Cardio Thoracic surgeon appears not to have seen Don before Theatre. The surgeon again was unprofessional. Why was that?

9. Ungraded Talc known to be connected to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (which Don developed) was used. They now no longer use this. It was known it caused ARDS. The surgeon and team again were unprofessional. Why was it used? Was it cheaper?

10. My husband’s right lung was meant to be suctioned till all the fluid was removed at the gentle suction of 3KPA. They admit that a transcription error caused his lung to be vacummed at 10 times that value at 31KPA. This was left like that for almost 24 hours and was not spotted by Cardiothoracic Doctors, and the Spinal Unit’s nurses till 8am the next day. The surgeon and team again were unprofessional. How can this ever have happened?

11. Cardiothoracic were ignorant of Quadriplegic breathing mechanism which makes it harder to breathe while sitting up if there are problems. They ordered him sat up in his wheelchair and he rapidly deteriorated. I begged the Spinal Nurse to get him back to bed but was refused and he suffered three hours of torture trying to breathe against gravity? The surgeon and team again were unprofessional. Why were they so ignorant?

12. Cardiothoracic should have known not to sit up someone with suctioning of the lungs in progress as this can cause the surgery to fail and can lead to ARDS. This happened? The surgeon and team again were unprofessional. Why was this?

13. Spinal nurses and Doctor as well as Cardiothoracic were grossly negligent over the next days and he was treated badly as his condition became dangerous and he began to hallucinate and gasp for breath. How could they do this to him?

14. On the night of the first of five respiratory arrests he called my name for three hours according to his roommate and THEY DID NOTHING. I was 5 mins away and had given them instructions to call me at any time if he needed me or things got worse. How could they do this to him?

The next five weeks in RNSH’s Intensive Care Unit were a five-week horror movie that I can not get out of my head. I try to see him as he was before they tortured him - before they filled him full of filth and sepsis, and fluid and God knows what else. I can’t. I see my lovely sweet man tied and gagged by tubes, , full of fluid and MRSA and all sorts of tubes. I see him with his tongue being forced painfully out and in and out as he reached yet another respiratory arrest and was breathing 50 breaths per minute - he was so frightened and I couldn’t help him. It went on like this for five weeks. I feel like I have been in a war zone. What I have relayed here is just the tip of the iceberg as to what was done to my daughters’ father and my wonderful husband.

Finally he was allowed his wish, which was to go home and die. Even then it depended on conforming to their demand that the home respirator be taken away as soon as he got home. Apparently there was not one other home respirator in RNSH or at Port Macquarie or anywhere else in the Northern Areas’ Health Service. Why was that?

It was not a death – it was a killing, caused by gross negligence, ignorance, stupidity, arrogance, filth and cost cutting. I should not have to be chasing justice on behalf of my husband, daughters and myself.

It should not take so long for those responsible to be prosecuted for killing Don Mackay and those most responsible should not be still practising inside Royal North Shore Hospital without restrictions and observation. It would be better for NSW residents if they were not in the health system at all.

Some new ones on Quick Whipped up faeries...
I haven't posted here since January....for those who have visited this other blog...some newies here...am trying black greys and white as a change from colour...for those not visiting before... take from this what you will