Justifiable Arson?
Posted: Sunday, January 22, 2012
by Jack H. Schick
A couple of years ago I got really sick. I had a chest cold for a month and then, suddenly, my knee joints flared up. I’ve always been susceptible to getting gout (it’s amazing how the flare ups became so few and far between since I quit drinking beer). I was in tremendous pain and couldn’t walk. On Christmas night they hauled me off to the hospital. I was such a mess that the ambulance crew had to take me out of the house on a stretcher.
They put me in intensive care diagnosed with “sepsis.” That’s what they put down on the paperwork when they believe you actually are sick, but they have no clue how or why. I felt relieved. I had been confused and worried, but now I was in the hospital where people were supposed to take care of me. I tried to relax and get to sleep. That’s what I thought you did in the hospital, get rest and recuperate. I guess I was pretty naïve about that, too.
The ICU is circular, so they can watch all the rooms from the central nursing station. They kept my curtains open because (remember?), they didn’t know what was wrong with me and they wanted to keep an eye on me. The bright lights made sleeping difficult. With all the IV’s hanging and the tubes stuck in my arm, hand and nose I had to try to sleep half sitting up and couldn't roll over. Then, they came in every hour and a half or so and woke me up to take me temperature and inspect me.
I only got a few naps during the night. I was intent on getting a few more during the day, between the trips downstairs for them to run a bunch of tests on me. That wasn't going to happen, either. The family of my room mate, who was pretty much comatose, came in to spend the day with him. His wife watched TV all day, laughing at the sitcom gags and calling out the answers on the quiz shows. He looked pretty old for it, but had two little kids who played on the floor and raised hell all day. It was almost a relief when the orthopedic doctor came in to drain the fluid out of my knees. Atleast it was the type of pain I could deal with.
It went on like that for a couple of days. I’ve never been so exhausted as I was after a hospital stay. It was like Russian sleep deprivation torture. They darn near killed me. I filled the pain pill prescription on the way home, took the maximum dose and slept for fourteen hours. Now, instead of looking at the hospital as a safe haven, I look at it as a perverse punishment chamber. That’s why, when I read about Desiree Gottsabend in the newspaper, I wasn’t surprised. Actually, I sympathized with her, even though I didn’t necessarily agree with her actions and didn't know the whole story.
Last week at the Lower Bucks (County, Pennsylvania) Hospital in Bristol Township, the medical-surgical floor charge nurse responded when the fire alarm panel sounded. She rushed down to room 446. 31-year-old Desiree Gottsabend was the only patient in the room. When she got there the door was closed. She tried to get in, but Desiree was blocking it and wouldn’t let her in. When the nurse finally forced her way past, she found the room on fire, including the bed closest to the door. Not unexpectedly, pandemonium ensued.
The fire alarm went out at 4:26 p.m. Initial reports said smoke was pouring from the fourth floor of the hospital. Fire companies scrambled to the scene, but the hospital’s sprinkler system had quickly extinguished the blaze. Damage of about $5,000 was isolated to Desiree’s room. Sixteen people, mostly hospital staff, suffered smoke inhalation. The potential was much greater. There were about 450 people in the hospital at the time of the fire.
According to Bristol Township fire Marshal Kevin Dippolito, the subsequent investigation found that half the mattress and bedding material had been involved. There was no evidence of an accidental ignition source. They found a pink cigarette lighter on the unburned part of the bed and a partially burned black purse that belonged to Gottsabend. The fire was determined to be arson.
When the smoke cleared, so to speak, Gottsabend was nowhere to be found. She’d escaped from the hospital during the confusion. Hospital security soon received a report that a woman wearing a white coat was seen wandering in the woods behind the facility. Police responded and found Gottsabend. They took her to the emergency room from where she was involuntarily committed for a mental health evaluation.
Desiree was charged with arson and with risking a catastrophe. She was arraigned before District Judge Daniel Finello the next day and sent to Bucks County Prison in lieu of $300,000 bail. I can understand why. There was probably a better, easier way out, but I also can see Desiree’s point of view. Actually, after my experiences, I wonder if it really is too high of a price to pay. It did get her out of the hospital, and I’ll bet they’re letting her sleep through the whole night over at the jail.
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)Are they putting something in the water supply there? Some strange goings on...my, my.
As for the 'sepsis' diagnosis...you are aware a lot of people die from that, aren't you. It's an infection you don't want to have, so be careful....they had good reason to watch you in ICU.
It appears to me that the recession/depression in the economy is taking those who 'are on the edge' and pushing them overboard. There are a lot of 'kooky' news stories lately, everywhere.Who knows? Thanks for reading and commenting
Loved this piece. I stayed with my wife after she had her stroke. For four days I stayed there watching the endless parade of technicians, reps, nurses, advisors and doctors marched in a metered pattern. There is no "getting better" is sleep has anything to do with it. I went in healthy and emerged worn out and sick. It is amazing. Good article.Thanks for reading and commenting- I hope your wife is okay
My only 3 trips to the hospital were all to give birth but each time I couldn't wait to get home so I could get some sleep! Even with a newborn I'd get more sleep at home. I had friends who would want to stay an extra day for the "rest". I could never understand what they were talking about. Great story!Thanks for reading and commenting--and having this site--Jean.
Everyone's got a hospital story. I really enjoyed yours, thanks.Thanks again!
I gave birth to two children at Lower Bucks via cesarean, 7 years apart. Each required about a five day stay. Couldn't wait to go home to get peace and sleep. Bright lights all day/night, nurses stopping in regularly for medication, to "check on me". No blame to the hospital or staff at all for doing their job, but it can take a toll on someone who is already under stress.You bet! congratulations. Sleep tight. Thanks for reading and commenting
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