Kim Brentnall is finally doing better. Her bedsores have been healing and her family is working at lining up physiotherapy to restore movement in her body.
The 53-year-old Gambo woman was admitted to James Paton Memorial Regional Health Centre in Gander after suffering a stroke in July. As a result, she lost her appetite and refused to eat.
RELATED: Gambo man files complaint against Central Health over treatment of loved one
Between her stay in Gander and later being transferred to two hospitals in St. John’s, it would be six weeks before she would be treated for starvation and a feeding tube inserted.
Because of starvation, Ron Carter, her spouse, said Brentnall’s body began feeding off of itself, leading to serious health problems, including her kidneys and liver shutting down, extremely low blood levels and infection throughout her body.
She became riddled with bedsores because she couldn’t move due to the lack of energy.
At the time, Carter filed an Adult Protection Act claim requesting an investigation take place, but it doesn’t appear there will be answers anytime soon.
“There was a meeting… but I don’t think we’re going to get anywhere with this as a case,” he said.
Brentnall has since been returned to the hospital in Gander and Carter said her hospital treatment appears to have gotten better.
“It seems someone is sitting with her more often and they are paying more attention to her condition,” he said. “If they had done this when she first went in there….”
While there was no indication as of Friday, Dec. 7 of when her discharge might take place, Carter is preparing for Brentnall’s return home.
A special pressure mattress bed has been ordered to make her more comfortable and their work towards a physiotherapy plan is underway.
“The physiotherapy team is going to start trying stuff, and the homecare workers and myself will be doing some work at home to see if we can get her moving again,” he said. “The stomach tube will be permanent.”
Central Health did not respond immediately to an update request to the case.
However, in a previous article, the regional health authority stated in an email, the matter was being taken seriously and that once a concern is brought forward, it is reviewed by the service area manager and other members surrounding the complaint may be involved.
The time to review and address concerns can vary depending on the nature of the issue.
