On January 1, 2003 my husband, Glenn Cartrette, had knee surgery. After three weeks he went back to work and found he had a new pain in his hip joint which grew worse during his 17-hour workdays. Glenn had a full hip replacement in October. After the two surgeries, pain began to be a daily part of Glenn’s life. Finally the pain was so intense that he no longer could go to rehab. Then problems started with his lungs. The orthopedic surgeon said there was nothing wrong with his surgery but during one of his many hospital admissions Glenn and I were told he had MRSA. He was placed in a private room where visitors were required to wash their hands, put on a gown, gloves and mask before entering the room. He spent weeks in the hospital and continued to take vancomycin for the MRSA after he was released.
After returning home Glenn continued to have pain and difficulty breathing which required visits to the emergency room often. I would beg for help because I could see the stress on him just to breathe. We also consulted with pain management doctors to monitor the pain medications needed in ever increasing doses. Except for about 15 days in a nursing home, Glenn was in the hospital from July, 2005 until January, 2006. His lungs were infected with MRSA and he was in a great deal of pain. He died on January 26, 2006 unaware of what was going on around him. Death was the only escape from the horrible things MRSA had done to him and his body. I spend my days with our grandson that was born two months before his grandfather died. Also, my Dad died 75 days after Glenn. He had been in the hospital and also tested positive for MRSA. It has had a great impact and toll on this family.
I spend my days with our grandson that was born two months before his grandfather died. Also, my Dad died 75 days after Glenn. He had been in the hospital and also tested positive for MRSA. It has had a great impact and toll on this family.I spend my days with our grandson that was born two months before his grandfather died. Also, my Dad died 75 days after Glenn. He had been in the hospital and also tested positive for MRSA. It has had a great impact and toll on this family.
Stop MRSA– A poem by Teri Cartrette
My Fight
Who would have ever thought you would pay for this with your life?
It’s an infection that seems to be rampant and causing so much strife.
It just seems there was no one willing to say you would not get well.
There were no answers as to why you had to go through hell.
The countless days and months of pain and suffering.
The awful damage to your lungs, which left you smothering.
There were signs posted on the doors all around hospital rooms.
But who knew this staph infection was a sickness that dooms.
The surgery you had was to keep you out of work for six weeks.
Who knew that two years and nine months MRSA would reek?
Watching you suffer daily while continuing to pray.
Reliving the pain should I have asked you to stay?
Fourteen states are required to report to the public these staff infections.
How many people will have to become infected not having any directions?
There are sites about hospital infections that are fighting to take action.
If you know about this infection then we need to battle it with a passion.
There has got to be a drive today to get this under control.
Before it enters your life, which is too much of a toll.
by TeriCartrette © March, 2006