Frustrated and Venting

     Not much of what I am going to say now matters nor is it a concern with the change of events that have happened since I wrote this. Last night I was frustrated, pissed, and sad all at the same time. I usually jot down things I have done during my days here and then write about them when I have a chance. Last night I was so mad that while we were waiting in the hospital for news on how my cousin was doing after his operation I started writing what I was experiencing and how I was feeling to help relieve some of the stress. I apologize now since it is probably going to come across very bitter, but since this is part of my journey here I figured everyone should know what exactly is going on.
     May2, 2012 I have to say that being on the other side as a patient's family member, not having control, and waiting for information on how they are doing is a lot shittier than actually being behind the scenes and knowing what is going on with everyone. What is even worse is being in a different country where things are done differently and it suddenly becomes a situation of culture shock. If worse comes to worse all I have to say is thank God my mom and I have travelers insurance.
     My cousin Gaetano was taken into surgery this morning at around 9:15am and we were told he should be out at around 3:00pm. At 3:30pm one of the doctors came out and we thought he was done and in ICU, but instead we found out that the doctor went to take a smoke break. Since then my cousins wife (the mom) has been asking every doctor that comes out of the office for any information on my cousin, and everyone here keeps walking by and responding as they continue walking "just a little longer". Everyone keeps walking by like they don't have the time of day and have better things to do. From my vantage point I see it as there shift is over and they could care less...another day another dollar. At one point Simona (mom) had to ask one doctor who came out if my cousin was still because no one will give us any answers, and the doctor has not came out to update us or tell us anything.
     Now here it is 8:00pm at night. We are going on greater than 12 hours waiting to hear something. I finally find out after I start asking more questions that my cousin is still in surgery and has been this whole time. What I am told now is that they only thought the doctor was done at 3:30, but instead he was taking a break. Gaetano has been in surgery all day because he is hemmorhaging and they can't get the bleeding to stop. Since they are unable to stop the bleeding they can not close him up. After I find this out I am pissed and decided to go tell my mom the change in story (because I told her he was out earlier that day). After talking to my mom I find out that she already knows because the aunt we are staying with has been talking to my aunt (Gaetano's grandma) that is at the hospital with us. I definitely feel like a dumbass that im at the hospital and  finding things out last minute, but I guess regardless of the language barrier that is everyday life for me. When I was talking to my mom I had to leave and go outside to call her because I didn't want my cousin and his wife seeing me cry. I was so mad that I started crying when I was yelling/telling my mom of the BS that is going on here. I'm not sure if it is because I know how important good customer service is when it comes to patient, but what has pissed me off the most is that no one will take the time to give us any information, and they just keep walking/running by as if we are the paparazzi when Simona ask a question as to how her son is doing. ASecond, I understand we get breaks and that this has been a long operation; however, if the doctor can take a 5 minute smoke break he sure as hell can take 5 minutes to update a pleeding mother on how her child is doing. Besided you work in a hospital and if you know you are going to be working for hours put on a flipping nicotine patch. Neglecting a patient who happens to be my little cousin for smoke break while he lies filleted on the operating table is ridiculous. WTH!!! How is that even acceptable?
     Claudia, Giacomo, Simona's dad, and I returned home last night around 10:00pm while the others continued to wait at the hospital. At 11:00pm Claudia gets a phone call and it is my aunt (her mother). Claudia comes into my room and tells me something I do not understand. She tries to explain it better and at the end she did the sign of the cross (a Catholic thing) and then told me he was dead in Italian. I call my mom and told her what she told me.
     Midnight my couin Antonio (father) hands me the phone when I walk into the kitchen. It is my mom. She tells me my little cousin is still alive. Gaetano is now in ICU and they are still unable to get the bleeding to stop. They are treating him with medications in hopes that the bleeding will stop and he will coagulate. There is also complications with his kidneys and liver, but I am not sure exactly what.

Here is a picture of what one of the ambulances in Naples looks like, and the uniforms they where. This is outside the hospital where my cousin is being treated.