Wednesday, December 19, 2007

MY VISITING PRIVILEGES REVOKED TODAY BECAUSE OF MY CONCERN AND EXPRESSIONS OF MONTELL'S HEALTHCARE AND YESTERDAY'S VISIT WITH HIM

12/19/07 -- While driving to have my daily visit with Montell I received a call at 4:50 p.m. from Warden McCann, from Stateville who informed me that my visiting privileges had been revoked until I meet with the hospital’s administrative staff and that they would be calling me. I told him that they had requested that I remove all employees’ names from the blog and that I had. I also told him that I hold the Illinois Department of Corrections responsible for the condition that Montell lies in everyday.

While under their “watch and care” he developed Stage 4 bed sores, a blood infection that now reaches the bones of his limps and to add insult to injury while extracting some of his teeth they gave him Hepatitis C which now Montell is suffering and dying from. None of these are related to chronic progressive multiple sclerosis. I invited him as well as others from that department to come out and look at Montell lying in a fetal position and see how frail his body is and then tell me and others that you gave him the “best of care”.

I went on to tell him that his department have done a lot to me and Montell and the public needs to know what they are doing to men and women behinds those walls when they become ill. They need to know this and demand that these conditions be stopped immediately. I realized that I’m losing my son and hope and pray that by sharing what we are experiencing with this system will help to make the public cry out for justice and demand quality healthcare for all inmates. I will never stop telling our story until this has ended. I, as well as others am aware of the men and women who have already died behind those walls, this is outrageous and have got to stop!

Prisons are obsolete in the first place. Having them in existence does not deter crime. Having them is just a way of warehousing people and other people making money off of them.

The money wasted on building these facilities should be used for educating children and providing jobs for people. He then told me that the hospital would be calling me as well. Enough Is Enough! By the way I told him that he would see his name on Montell’s Blog in the morning as well as our conversation.

After hanging up the phone from him, I immediately called my attorney and told him what had just happened to me. I gave him the number to contact the prison. I’m tired of being denied the right to see my son.

I then call the hospital and talked with my contact person. at the hospital and told her what Warden McCann had told me. She stted that she didn’t know anything about the hospital asking that my visiting privileges be revoked. We had spoken this morning and I assured her that I would remain all hospital employees’ names from the blog and I had. She then told me that the meeting I had requested with the medical team working with Montell is scheduled for tomorrow at 11 a.m. She asked me let her make a telephone call. I told her about my concerns regarding Montell not seeing me today because of this mess and she assured me that she would check on him hourly and let me know how he was doing. I know that Montell is looking forward to seeing me, when I let him last night I told him I would see him today.

Since I didn’t hear from my contact as promised I called the hospital at 8:25 p.m. and asked to speak to the nurse who is taking care of Montell. She told me that she had been told to check him every hour and that she had just turned him form one side to the other. She stated that she was not told to call me, but had let Montell know that I would be there tomorrow. I asked for his vitals and she gave them to me from 5 p.m. His blood pressure was 95 over 60, pulse 95, respiration 22, oxygen level 96 and his temperature was 99.2.

12/18/07 – I arrived at the hospital at 2:45 p.m. Montell was lying on his right side. When he saw me he wanted me to put his left hand on his shoulder and the right hand down by his side so that he could touch the mattress. Today Montell was frustrated, he kept whining. I asked him if he felt well and he indicated that he didn’t. He wanted me to put the edge of the sheet his mouth and he wanted me to turn him to his left side but I was told by the nurse that they had turned him about an hour ago. Montell kept indicating that his right hip was hurting. I know that he doesn’t like lying on his right side and I told him that he had to wait because we want the bedsores on both sides of him to heal. I asked him to please lie on that side for one more hour and he nodded “yes”. The nurse came in and showed me how to do range of motion with his left arm. However, Montell didn’t want me to do it and started whining. The nurse told me that she had been doing this with him. Montell started whining again because he wanted his hands placed on his shoulders.

The wound care nurse came in to clean out his wounds and redress them. I noticed that the wound on his left feet isn’t healing very well, it seems to have an infection in it. As she was cleaning it out he started moaning. However, the other wounds seem to be doing better they look than last week. Montell wanted his right hand put by his side. I told him that he could do that his self, he motioned to me that he wanted me to do it. I did. However, I’m trying to encourage him to do as much as he can for himself. I don’t want the right arm to get like the left arm. After I moved the arm he drifted off to sleep. While he was sleeping I noticed that he was having spasms frequently and was moaning but still asleep.

About 45 minutes later he woke up and wanted me to cover up his hand, however, he kept taking the sheet off. He couldn’t decide whether he wanted his right hand on the pillow or touching the mattress besides his body. He finally decided to put in under the pillow. Then he wanted me to move his legs and pulled the pillow down so that it would separate his feet also. Montell decided that he wanted his palm of his left hand to touch the mattress. Later on he wanted me to cover up his right hand.

I went to the nurses’ station at 4:30 p.m. to get Montell’s vitals and the nurse told me she would be in to take them. Montell’s vitals are: blood pressure 121 over 74, pulse 106, respiration 22, oxygen level 99, temperature 99.8 and his blood sugar 107.

Montell started moaning again and I saw a tear coming from his right eye. He let me know that the spasms were hurting him. A nurse came in and I asked about her when he would be getting his Baclofin and she told me at 5:00 p.m. Montell wanted me to put his right hand under the pillow again. Through the ABCs Montell let me know something was wrong with his throat. I couldn’t get him to tell me anything else before his whole body started shaking. I immediately lifted his head by hand not remembering that he has buttons on his bed for doing that and asked the guard to ring the cal button for a nurse. The nurse came in and Montell settled down. It was was time for me to leave him so I told him that I would see him tomorrow. I called the hospital later to see how he was doing and was told that he was fine.

Monday, December 17, 2007

UPDATE ON MAIL SITUATION AND MY VISIT WITH MONTELL

12/17/07 – This afternoon I called the hospital and asked to speak to person in charge of receiving the mail for the seventh floor and the fact that Montell wasn't receiving his mail. She told me that she was not the person who handles the mail and that I had been misinformed. However, they do have a person who does work in conjunction with the IDOC when it comes to mail being sent to inmates while they are hospitalized. I understand that the IDOC wants all mail that’s sent to inmates there to be sent to the facility that the inmates are housed at and then they will deliver the mail to the inmates. I told her that at the present time Montell is not in any facility. At this particular time I’m asking that all mail be sent to: Montell Johnson, B-61337, Stateville Correctional Center, P.O. Box 112, Joliet, IL 60434 and lets see if he then receives his mail.

She explained to me that she works with patients and their families and if they have any concerns about the care given to them in the hospital that its her job to check into the matter and get it resolved. I told her that my main concern was that I didn’t want Montell to get re-infected in his bedsores or any more bedsores and that was why I was concerned about him lying in his urine or feces. She assured me that the hospital doesn’t want this to happen either and would take all precautions to see that this doesn’t happen. She’s checking my concerns out now.

I don’t want her or anyone else to think that the hospital isn’t taking good care of Montell or can’t. However, his case is different, he’s unable to ring the call button or tell anyone when something is wrong. I realized that they have other patients that are ill as well but Montell’s needs to be watched more closely and turned within a two-hour timeframe in order for him to have his bedsores heal properly and not get any more. I hope that I have cleared this matter up with all of you and I deeply apologize for any misunderstandings or interpretations that you may had after reading what I written on those two days about Montell’s care while in the hospital.

Now let’s get to my visit with Montell today. I arrived at the hospital at 4:45 p.m. and when I entered Montell’s room he was lying on his right side in a fetal position. When he saw me he wanted to do the ABCx. He spelled out “turn”.. I told him to let me take off my coat and I would turn him to his left side. The guard told me that the nurse had turned him at 3:30 p.m. and had asked him to let me know that when he needed to be turned or anything to let them know and they would do it. I tried to explain this to Montell and he got upset with me and closed his eyes and wouldn’t response to anything that I said to him. I noticed that he was having spasms. Montell had his right hand on his shoulder and his left hand laying across his chest and he drifted off to sleep. I noticed that while sleep he kept pulling his facial hairs. Montell started moaning in his sleep and opened and shut his eyes again. I asked why was he moaning and he pointed to his left side indicating that he wanted to be turned.

At 5:30 p.m. a nurse came in to turn him to his left side and Montell drifted back off to sleep. I asked her for his 3:30 p.m. vital check. She told me that his blood pressure was 106 over 76, pulse 97, respiration 18, temperature 99.0, oxygen level 100 and blood sugar count 114.
After the nurse turned him he drifted off to sleep until 6:48 p.m. and he opened and shut his eyes

At 7:35 p.m. the nurse came back in and turned him to his right side and he drifted off to sleep again or had his eyes shut. At 7:45 p.m. a nurse came in to take his vitals. His blood pressure was 87 over 55, pulse 90, respiration 19, temperature 99.2 and oxygen level 100. I told him that I would soon have to be leaving and he nodded. When it was time to leave I told him that I loved him and would see him tomorrow.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

MY VISIT WITH MONTELL TODAY

12/16/07 – Montell was lying on his right side when I arrived at 1:45 p.m. he was asleep. He woke up as soon as he heard my voice and pointed toward the guard. He wanted me to pull his sheet up around his shoulder and then he went back to sleep but was moaning. I asked him what was wrong and through the ABCs he told me “nothing” and drifted back off to sleep. While he was sleeping I noticed that he was having a few spasms

Montell woke back up and wanted a towel, I put a small cloth in his right hand and he began wiping his lips and face. He then wanted me to pull the sheet up around his shoulders and he drifted back off to sleep. When he woke up he wanted me to turn him to his left side. As I was turning him I noticed that he was lying in his feces again today. I put the call button on for a nurse and when she came in she stated that they had washed him up about three hours ago. I wonder how long has he been lying in his feces. They should be turning him every two hours. They had Montell cleaned up by 2:50 p.m. and he just laid there. One of the nurses dumped his output, it was 1,125 cc. When they left he wanted me to put his right and left hands on each shoulder, I did. I then asked him if he was comfortable and he nodded “yes”. He laid in the bed and watched the football game for awhile. He started moaning again, his right hand had fell from his shoulder and he wanted me to put it back, I did.

At 3:40 p.m. a nurse came in to take his vitals. His temperature was 97. blood pressure 105 over 70, respiration 22, pulse 105 and oxygen level 99. When she left Montell wanted me to put both his hands on his shoulders again and he wanted me to cover them up. His feeding tube started beeping at 4:38 p.m. and I put on the call button and someone answer it and told me they would be in. When I left to go get something to eat at 5 p.m., no one had came into the room. When I returned at 5:50 p.m., the feeding machine was operating properly. Montell wanted me to turn him to his right side, I cleaned his nose and then he drifted off to sleep. Montell woke back up at 6:28 p.m. and wanted me to put his left hand back on his shoulder. He also wanted me to move his legs to the left of the bed. When I went to pick him up and reposition him, I noticed that the white part of the pad that was lying under him was stuck to the ulcer on his right foot. I pushed the call button to tell them but got no answer so I walked to the nurses’ desk to tell them. The nurse told me that she would be there in a few minutes. She came into the room at 6:40 p.m. by that time I had already pulled Montell up higher in the bed and placed a pillow under his head. She cleaned up the wound and put some gauze and taped on it and left. Montell drifted off to sleep for a few minutes but was woken up because he started having spasms frequently. Montell then wanted me to pull his body to the left of the bed so that he could be in the middle, I did. He drifted back off to sleep for a few minutes and woke back up and wanted me to place his left hand back on his shoulder, I did. Montell drifted back off to sleep.

Two nurses came in at 7:50 p.m. and I told them that Montell was having spasms frequently and wanted to know when he would be getting his Baclofin. One of the nurses told me that he had been given it at 2 p.m. and wasn’t due for anymore until 10 p.m. I told her that didn’t happened because I was there at 2 p.m. and no one came in and gave him anything. She then told me that she would give it to him at 9 p.m. It was time for me to leave so I told Montell that I loved him and would see him tomorrow. He nodded his head and waved “goodbye” with his right hand. I intend to the hospital tomorrow and talk to the doctor about him not being turned every two hours and not receiving his Baclofin today.







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Saturday, December 15, 2007

MONTELL NOT FEELING WELL TODAY. VERY AGITATED.

12/15/07 – I arrived at the hospital at 5:25 p.m., I found Montell lying on his right side in a fetal position. Montell was whining and he seemed very agitated. When he saw me he wanted me to pull his sheet up and he let me know that he was cold and wanted a blanket. I rung his call button to ask for a blanket since there was none in the room. Montell let me know at 5:35 p.m. that he was wet. I went to the nurses’ station to let them know. The nurses came in at 5:45 p.m. and we found out that he was lying in his feces. The rectum tube has been removed. I asked why and the nurse told me that his stool was too hard to go through the tube. I don’t know how long he had been lying in that. Evidently, some must have gotten into his bedsores because they cleaned the areas and put some more gauze and tape over the opened wounds. He has two on his right hip and one going across his rectum. That must have been painful for him. Montell was given Baclofin at 6:05 p.m. and at that time he was having spasms frequently. Before they left they turned him to his left side.

Montell indicated to me that he wanted his right hand on his shoulder, I placed it there for him. Then he wanted me to pull his legs and feet to his right. He wanted his blanket pulled down. Montell wanted me to cover up both his hands while they were lying on his shoulders. I asked him if he had seen the doctor today and he nodded “yes”. Montell let me know that he wanted me to take the pillow from his head and place it under his left leg. I have noticed that if Montell’s leg is laid on top of a pillow no matter which leg is next to the bed and a pillow placed between them and his feet he doesn’t have as many spasms. He can’t have his legs and feet touching each other because of that. Montell later wanted to hold his left hand on his shoulder, I placed it there and then he started yawning. After awhile he let me know that he wanted his left hand to touch the mattress and his right hand to touch his pillow.

Montell wanted me to pull him up higher in the bed, I did. Montell through the ABCs spelled out “what’s up” and looked over at the guard. I didn’t answer him but I pray to God everyday that he would touch these people’s hearts and they let Montell along. Montell isn’t any harm to anyone and the guards being there is psychologically doing more damage, haven’t they done enough to him already? There is no need for them to even be there, Montell is not going to walk or fly off anywhere. He constantly watches them. I wish he could tell me why?

Montell then through the ABCs asked what day was it. I told him Saturday, December 15th and he nodded. Montell through the ABCs spelled “why” and looked at the guard again. The guard was sitting quietly on his left side by the wall and then Montell started whining and drifted off to sleep for about ten minutes. During that time I went to the nurses’ station to speak with his nurse and get his vitals. Montell’s temperature was 99, pulse 88, respiration 22, blood pressure 114 over 73, oxygen 99 and his output for the day was 2,000. These vitals were taken at 3:30 p.m.
Montell woke up and kept rubbing his face. He wants to be shaved. I called Warden Wright on Monday, December 10th and asked if they could do this. I was told that they could trim his facial hairs down a little but not entirely because it would distort his appearance. I wonder how would they like to look like he does now. When Montell was able to take care of himself, he was neat. The worst I’ve ever seen him in his life is since he’s had to depend on others to take care of his hygiene needs. He also needs some deodorant and I’m not permitted to bring him any and the IDOC hasn’t provided any.

Later on Montell let me know that he wanted his left hand on the mattress again. He lies in the bed just staring at the guard and then looking at me. He’s uncomfortable having these guards there and it hurts me to see my child hurting. Montell then placed his right and left hands on his shoulder and then drifted off to sleep for about ten minutes. He woke up and wanted me to pull him up higher in the bed, when I did this he started whining again. I asked him why and he let me know that he wasn’t feeling well. I let Montell know that I would soon have to leave and told him that I loved him and would be back tomorrow after mother and I got out of church. I don’t know how people could be so insensitive and heartless, why can’t they let Montell live his remaining days in dignity and leave him alone.






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Friday, December 14, 2007

DAMETRA AND I VISITED WITH MONTELL TODAY

12/14/07 – Today I arrived at the hospital at 12:45 p.m. and Dametra was already there. When I got to Montell’s room I noticed that he was quite agitated and wanted to know why? Dametra told me that she got there at 11 a.m. and that Montell had been lying in his feces since 11:30 a.m. She told me that she had rung the call button three or four times since that time and nobody came into the room to clean him up. There wasn’t any draw sheets, pads or gowns and she would have done it herself except for that. She told me that a nurse had came in and told her that she was getting a patient ready for surgery and that she had four other patients. Dametra told me that it doesn’t take that long to prepare a patient for surgery. The nurse had told her that she needed to order a rectum tube and Dametra said that she told her that they should always keep an extra rectum tube and Texas catheter in the room with Montell since they know that they are capable of coming off. She should know because she works in the medical field. At l:30 p.m. a nurse came in to give Montell some more IV and his antibodies. I told her and she went out and got what she needed to clean him up. She also dumped his output and he had 450 cc. I thanked her for cleaning Montell up. When she left Montell told me through the ABCs that nobody does any work and drifted off to sleep

When Montell woke up he wanted his left hand raised up. At 3:50 p.m. a nurse came in to take his vitals. His temperature was 97.6, blood pressure 110/69, pulse 100, oxygen level 99 and respiration 99. At 4:05 p.m. Montell told me that he had urinated on himself even though he has on a Texas catheter. I push the call button however, no one came into the room until 4:40 p.m. The nurse came in and even though I had told them that Montell was wet, she had to go back out and get the things to change the bed. In the process of changing him she flipped him over and his forehead hit the bed railing. After she left out the room Montell told me through the ABCs to “let’s go.” Lord, I hope and pray that I will be able to take him home and take care of him myself.

I asked Montell if he had seen the doctor today and he nodded his head up and down, indicating “yes”. Montell drifted off to sleep for a little while and he when he woke up he wanted to be moved to the center of the bed. Later on he wanted me to place his left hand on his shoulder and cover him up with the sheet only. I told Montell that I was going to get me something to eat because I began to get a headache at 5:45 p.m.

When I arrived back in his room at 6:30 p.m. Montell was irritable and through the ABCs let me know that he wanted us to go again. Montell then wanted me to put the pillow his head was on down so that his shoulder and head were both on the pillow. I later noticed that he was having spasms frequently and he was crying. He wanted me to take his left hand and put it up so he could hold the pillow and he wanted me to cover him up. At 7:l5 p.m. the IV machine started buzzing and I rung the button to inform them. You would not believe that no one came in before I left at 8 p.m. I decided to turn Montell to his left side at 7:30 p.m. and make sure that he was comfortable before I had to leave. I asked him if he was comfortable and he nodded “yes”. I told Montell that if he drifted off to sleep before I left that I would see him tomorrow and told him that I loved him. I asked him if he loved me and he nodded “yes”. When I left Montell was sleep.

This morning I called the hospital to find out why Montell wasn’t getting any mail. I left a message for the supervisor, telling him that its illegal to fool with U.S. Mail. He called me back while I was at the hospital on my home phone and left a message telling me that he delivers the mail to 7 East to be delivered to patients and that Montell's mail should be with her. I then called the hospital and was told that the person I needed to talk with wouldn’t be in until Monday however, a clerk told me that they have a procedure. I will call her the first thing Monday morning about this matter.




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Thursday, December 13, 2007

MY VISITS WITH MONTELL - DECEMBER 3RD. THROUGH DECEMBER 13TH..

12/13/07 – Today when I arrived at the hospital Montell was lying on his left side in a fetal position. He was upset; the guard told me that he had been down for a procedure. I felt his forehead and right hand and they were cold. He settled down about 15 minutes later. He had his gown down on his left shoulder so I pulled it back up on him. Montell was trying to talk today, you could understand some things but his words became slurred the more he tried to talk. The nurse came in and took his vitals at 3:30 p.m. His blood pressure was 101/61 temperature 97.8, pulse 84, respiration 16 and oxygen level 100. His output was 350 cc and a light yellow.
Montell kept having me do the ABCs and he kept spelling out his gown was inside. I noticed that he was having spasms frequently. Montell wanted to know what time I was leaving and I told him 8 p.m., he nodded. Montell wanted me to put the edge of the sheet in his mouth. I turned Montell over on his right side at 5 p.m. and he drifted off to sleep. When I saw the nurse I asked her what kind of test did Montell have and she told me that he had a “Lower Extremity Venus Dopler Study” to check the circulation in his legs. Montell woke up and wanted me to put his hand in the hold in the bed railing. I turned Montell to his left side at 7 p.m. and pulled him up in the bed higher. Montell drifted off to sleep. He woke up and I told him I had to leave but I would see him tomorrow.
12/12/07 – Today I arrived at the hospital at 12 p.m. and Montell was lying in a fetal position on his left side. I felt his forehead and right hand and they were a little warm, his complexion was normal and he was having spasms. The guard told me that I only could stay two hours and I had to leave for an hour and come back. I told him that I didn’t do this because I needed to be there to interact with the doctors and nurses. He called Stateville and they told him that he was right. I told him he needed to call Warden Wright and get so that he would know that I was telling him the truth. Montell’s first question for me while I was doing the ABCs was “Why does he have a guard?” Montell wanted me to place his head in the center of the pillow. Montell let me know that he wanted his right shoulder covered up. Montell wanted me to pulled him up in the bed and place him in the center of it after that he drifted off to sleep. Dr. Bryant came in and told me that Montell was a little dehydrated and didn’t seem to have any infection. He asked me if Montell had been coughing and I said “no”. However, later on when Montell woke up he started coughing. The nurse came in at 2:55 p.m. and gave him some Baclofin for his spasms and he drifted back off to sleep.
I turned Montell to his right side at 3:55 p.m. His bed is higher now because they say this would keep him for aspirating because of the feeding tube. Montell drifted back off t sleep. The nurse came in at 3:20 p.m. and took his vitals. His blood pressure was 99/66, pulse, 103, respiration 105 and oxygen level 100. I left Montell to go get something to eat because I realized that I hadn’t eaten very much this morning. When I returned Montell was moaning. He immediately stopped when he noticed that I was back in the room with him and drifted off to sleep. When I started turning Montell over to his left side I noticed that his gown was wet from top to bottom. I had to ring for a nurse. She came in noticed that his IV was out left and came back with another one and left again and told me she was going to get some new bedding and gown. She came back 25 minutes later with another nurse but by this time Montell had started moaning and coughing again. When they finished cleaning Montell up he drifted back off to sleep. I felt his forehead and it was quite warm. Montell woke up at 7:30 p.m. because he was having severe spasms. I noticed that they had put his right leg on top of his left leg without a pillow between his legs. I immediately put a pillow between his legs and the spasms stopped. When it was time for me to leave I told Montell that I would see him tomorrow.

12/11/07 – I called Stateville this morning spoke with Dawn about getting Montell a haircut, shaved and some deodorant. I was told that they couldn’t shave him because it would alter his appearance but they would cut the facial hair down some. As far as the deodorant I was told to notify the hospital because I am not allowed to bring any. I asked Dawn to have the Warden Wright call me.
When I arrived at the hospital Montell was lying on his left side. I felt his forehead and it was warm, his right hand was cold, however, I could tell that he wasn’t feeling well. Montell was upset because they had inserted a rectum tube in him and he immediately let me know that he wanted me to take it out. I tried to explain to him why it was there and that I couldn’t remove it and he began to cry. He kept telling to get it out through the ABCs. I also noticed that he was receiving IV again and was told that was because he was dehydrated again and not urinating as he normally does. His output today was only 350 cc.
I noticed that the blood blister on his left arm seems to have dried up. Montell kept trying to reach the left railing and I offered to help him but he was mad at me because I wouldn’t remove the rectum tube and didn’t want my help. He eventually drifted off to sleep for about 40 minutes. A nurse came in to take his vitals and work him up at 5:25 p.m. His blood pressure was 101/65, his pulse was 112 and his oxygen level was 99. She told me that she was concerned because at 3:30 p.m. his blood pressure was 89/58 and that she might have to call the doctor to report it. After she left Montell drifted off to sleep again. The nurse came back into the room at 6:30 p.m. and turned Montell to his right side. I noticed that the bedsore on the right side of his hip now have a bandage on it. She told me that the wound care specialist had cleaned this area out today. When she left Montell drifted off to sleep again. Later on a lab technician came in to draw some blood from him and he drifted off to sleep again. The nurse came back at 7:45 p.m. and took his vitals again. This time his blood pressure was 88/66 in his left arm so she took it from his right arm and it was 94/70, his temperature was 99.1 his pulse was 108 and his oxygen level was 99. When I got ready to leave for the evening I had to wake him up and let him know that I was leaving. I told him that I would see him tomorrow.

12/10/07 – When I arrived Montell was lying on his left side in a fetal position. I noticed that his complexion was darker and his forehead and right hand felt warm to me. Montell was having spasms frequently. Montell wanted me to put hte edge of his sheet into his mouth and then he started crying about his left hand. He wanted me to reposition it for him. Montell wanted to old the television remote in his right hand when actually its too heavy for him to hold so I held it and pretended that he was doing it by himself. The nurse came in at 3:35 p.m. and took his vitals. His blood pressure was 103/68, his temperature was 99.8, pulse, 04 and oxygen level was 98. I was told that Montell was sleeping quite a bit today. I noticed that he wasn’t very active. I had to leave him in order to attend a meeting so I told him that I would see him tomorrow and kissed him on the forehead and left.

12/9/07 – When I arrived Montell was lying on his right side. He wanted to be placed into he center of the bed. Montell forehead and right hand were cold; however, he let me know that he was feeling well. Montell wanted to be moved to his left side at 3 p.m. The nurse came in and took his vitals at 3:335 p.m. His blood pressure was 90/60, pulse 96, oxygen level was 99. When she left Motell drifted off to sleep for little while. When he woke up he wanted me to turn him to his right side and then Montell drifted off to sleep again. Later on the nurse came in to give him some Baclofin and he drifted off again. Around 7:30 p.m. I woke him up again so that I could turn him left side and make sure he was clean before I left. I told him that I would see him tomorrow.

12/8/07 – When I arrived at Montell was lying on his left side. He was verbal for awhile today, Montell said that he likes laying on his left side. I noticed that he has no IV today. He told me that he was sore and asked me not to touch him. He was having spasms rapidly. I asked him if he had seen the Dr. Falck and Diane, the medical student today and he nodded “yes”. Montell then drifted off to sleep. When he woke up he wanted the call button, which is difficult for him to hold in his right hand but I gave it to him and held it as well. He then wanted me to reposition his body so that he would be in the middle of the bed, I did. He then drifted off to sleep. The nurse came in at 3 p.m. to take his vitals. His blood pressure was 103/69, temperature 96.4, pulse 78, respiration 20 and oxygen level 96. Dianne the medical student came in to check the blood blister on his left arm and said that there shouldn’t have been any gauze put on it and she remove it. The blood blister looks like an upside down “V” or a lopped sided “7”.
After she left Montell wanted me to reposition him and put him in the center of the bed. Montell also let me know that he was cold. When I went to change Montell to his right side at 5:45 p.m. I found out that he was wet. I rung for a nurse because his “Texas Catheter” had came off. The nurse came in and put another one on him. Montell drifted off to sleep. The nurse came back in at 7:45 p.m. to take his vitals. His blood pressure was 86/61, pulse 68, and oxygen level was 97. I’ve got to find out why Montell didn’t get anything to eat by mouth today. I kissed Montell on the forehead and told him I would see him tomorrow.

12/7/07 -- When I arrived at the hospital Montell was lying on his right side. I felt his forehead and right hand and they weren’t warm. Montell’s left hand is not swollen today. I was able to get Montell to eat 4 ounces of the Thicken Easy Orange Juice. He wanted me to remove all his pillows from the bed. Montell wanted me to turn the ceiling lights out. He wanted me to position him so that he could lay directly on his back I told him that I couldn’t because of the bed sore that’s on his back above his rectum. He started crying and moaning because he started having spasms. Montell let me know that he wanted his hair cut and to be shaved. I told him that I would see about getting this done. I noticed that there was something on Montell’s left arm. I thought that it could have been some blood or some of his breakfast on him. So I went into the washroom and wet a towel to wipe it off. I gently rubbed him but nothing came off on the towel. I rung for a nurse. Dianne the medical student told me that it looked like a blood blister. She cleaned it and put a bandage on it and said she would have Dr. Falck look at it. I noticed that Montell wasn’t getting IV any more.
A nurse came in at 5:20 p.m. to take his vitals. His blood pressure was 93/62, pulse 7l, oxygen level 99 and temperature 98.6. After she left Montell started vomiting something yellow. I had to sit him up in the bed. Montell then let me know that he wanted his left hand on his shoulder. He started have severe spasms around 5:30 p.m. Montell then wanted his left hand to go into the hole in the bed railing but it wouldn’t reach the bed railing because his left arm is contracted. He then wanted me to place it on his shoulder. Montell let me feed him four ounces of vanilla ice cream. I was almost time for me to leave so I turned Montell on his left side and told him that I would see him tomorrow.

12/6/07 – When I arrived today, Montell was lying on his back asleep. He woke up and saw me and drifted back off to sleep. His forehead and right hand were cold. Dianne the medical student came in to examine Montell. He told her “no” I told him that she had to do it and he agreed to let her do it. Montell seems to be coming down with a cold; he coughed five time within an hour time. Dr. Falck came in and wanted to examine his lungs, he refused and I told me she had too and he agreed to let her do it. After she left Montell wanted to be covered up. He kept letting me know that he wanted some food. He had me saying the ABCs and he drifted off to sleep. The officers being in the room seem to be upsetting Montell. He constantly watches whoever is in the room. The nurse came in to take Montell’s vitals. His blood pressure was 99/56, his temperature 98.1, pulse 89, oxygen level 100, respiration 20, blood sugar 100 and output 320 cc.

12/5/07 – When I arrived at the hospital Montell was lying on his left side and was asleep. When he woke up he wanted me to move his left and right legs over and cover him up. He later wanted me to put his head in the middle of the pillow. Then he wanted me to wipe his lips with a towel even though he didn’t have anything on his lips. Montell kept letting me know that he wanted some food by opening his mouth and pointing to it. I told him that he was getting fed but he shook his head “no”. He wants it in his mouth. Later Montell wanted me to move his right foot. I noticed that Montell is not getting IV any more however, he is still receiving the three antibodies, I was told that this was because the infection that he has in the bedsores and ulcers have reached his bones. When it was time to go, I told Montell I would see him tomorrow.

12/4/07 – I arrived at 11:45 a.m. and found Montell lying on his left side in a fetal position. Montell keeps letting me know through the ABCs that he wants some food. Montell was having spasms frequently. The nurse came in and took his vitals. His blood pressure was 108/68, temperature 98.0, pulse 101, respiration 22, oxygen level 98. Montell called out “my hands belong under the cover’ and then he drifted off to sleep. When he woke up he wanted his left hand to hold the pillow. He woke up at 4:50 p.m. moaning, he wanted to be raised to the top of the bed. Dr. Vurn came in and told me that the MRI that Montell had on his head show no new lesions. I asked him if Montell could have some food and he said he would check. When he left Montell wanted his left hand to touch the pillow. I noticed that Montell now has a rectum bag on now. Montell told me that when he needs help the guards wouldn’t help him. I told him to push the red button on the remote. This however, seems to be a problem since most of the time when I walk into the room the guards have the remote instead of Montell. Montell then let me know that he wanted a towel. Montell then wanted his left hand to touch the pillow. Most of the day Montell slept. I had to wake him up and tell him I was leaving but would see him tomorrow.

12/3/07 – Today Sonja called me at 9:30 a.m.from Neurology and told me that the MRI of Montell’s feet showed that the ulcers had extended to the bones. I call Warden Wright at 11:50 a.m. to ask her if I could bring some thermal shirts out to Montell at the hospital because he usually wears them. He stays cold all the time and she told me “no”. If she did this for him she would have to do if for all the inmates. I then explained to her about Montell’s condition and told her that at Dixon he always had on a thermal shirt. I then asked her if he could receive cards to help encourage him to keep on fighting for his life. I received the same answer “no”. She then told me that I couldn’t take anything in to him.
When I arrived at the hospital I heard that the IDOC was planning on taking Montell back to Dixon. Even though this seemed a little strange to me, I immediately contacted my attorney and told him. I didn’t wait this time because I remember what happened the last time he was here. I didn’t understand this move because we were scheduled to be in court in the morning for the judge to rule on what was going to happen to Montell. My attorney told me to go to Medical Records and get his records from November 30th through December 3rd. Ms. Spreights told me that she could release records until a patient was discharged. I told her I needed them for court in the morning. She then told me that she would have to call the hospital attorney because it was not legal to release a patient records while they were in the hospital. I then called my attorney and told him what she had said. She also asked me to have him call her. I decided to wait for awhile before returning to Montell’s room since Medical Records is a block away. Ms. Spreights came back out and told me that she hadn’t heard from her attorney, so I left and returned to Montell’s room. When I got back Montell wanted to be turned to his right side. Later he wanted to be turned to his left side. Montell had a very busy day with all the different teams coming and going. Between each team’s visit he would drift off to sleep. His output was 450 cc however, its still a dark yellow. His forehead and right hand felt warm to me. I understand that the head of general medicine had discharged him so that he could be returned to Dixon but Dr. Falck decided to keep him at the hospital tonight pending the hearing in court tomorrow. When I left the hospital tonight I felt a lots better, this has been a very trying day for us.

Sunday, December 2, 2007

MY VISITS WITH MONTELL OVER THE WEEKEND

12/02/07 – Today I arrived at the hospital at 2:25 p.m. and Montell was lying on his right side watching a football game. I noticed that he is his normal complexion today. Montell’s output was lighter today but still dark, he had 400 cc in the Foley. While we were doing the ABCs Montell let me know the following: He wanted me to turn him to his left side. He wanted me to help him touch the bed railing with his left hand after we did this he wanted his left hand to touch the air mattress and I helped him do it. Montell wanted me to cover him up. While I was saying the ABCs Montell drifted off to sleep and slept for about thirty minutes. When he work up he wanted me to place his right hand on his shoulder. Montell began to have frequent spasms around 3:35 p.m. I have noticed that they seem to come more in the evening than in the morning. Montell wanted to know what we were doing? I told him that we were watching a football game. Then he wanted to know why his left arm and hand were contracted and I told him it was because he didn’t get occupational therapy. Montell had me saying the ABCs again and he drifted off to sleep for thirty minutes and he woke up moaning. I asked him what was wrong and he let me know that he wanted his left hand to touch his right hand. I asked Montell if he had seen Dianne, the medical student this morning and he nodded “yes”. Montell let me know that he wanted a pillow behind his back. He wanted me change the little pillow that was under his head and put the larger pillow there, I did. Montell wanted me to move his left leg and elbow. Montell wanted a towel so he could wipe his mouth. Montell kept having me turning him from his right side to his left side and when I did he wanted to be back on his right side. After doing this three or four times, I told him to make up his mind which side he wanted to lay on and he decided to lay on his left side finally. The nurse came in and gave him some Baclofin through his feeding tube at 5:30 p.m. and took his vitals. His Blood Pressure was 109 over 71 and his Blood Sugar was 97. Montell just laid in his bed and watched television and would drift back and forth to sleep. When it was time for me to leave, I had to wake him up so that he would know that I was gone, I kissed him and told him that I would be back tomorrow.

12/01/07 – Today I arrived at the hospital at 1:00 p.m. and when I got to Montell’s room he waslying on his left side in a fetal position. By doing the ABCs Montell let me know the following: He wanted the call button. He wanted to know what we were watching, I told him the Jamie Fox Show and he indicated that he wanted to watch a football game, I changed the channel to one. Montell let me know that he had his air mattress. He wanted me to move his left hand up on the pillow. He wanted to wanted to know what time I was leaving? I told him 8 p.m. and he nodded his head up and down.

At l:50 p.m. they came in to take Montell for an MRI. I asked the guard if I could accompany them. The guard call Stateville and made them aware that Montell was going to another location for a MRI and the person he was speaking too told him I had to leave the room while they were gone and that I couldn’t accompany them. I also found out that when an inmate is being transported there must be two guards. They returned back to the room at 3:25 p.m. I noticed that Montell’s output is a deeper and darker color of yellow today, yesterday it was much lighter. A nurse came in and took his blood sugar it was 85. She told me that this must be done every six hours. Montell wanted me to lay his left hand on the pillow and then he drifted off to sleep for about twenty minutes while I was saying the ABCs to him.

When Montell woke up he wanted me to put his left hand under the pillow. Later on he wanted me to remove it because he wanted to make a fist and wanted me to put it under the covers. Then he wanted me to turn him to his left side and he wanted to hold the call button again. I noticed that as it gets later in the evening that Montell has more spasms. As I was sitting and watching him I noticed that the color of his skin was getting darker.

At 7:03 p.m. Montell let me know that he needed to be cleaned. I rung the call button some one answered and I let them know what I wanted. I had to push the call button at 7:13 p.m. again because no one had came in and Montell began moaning and crying. I asked if it was burning him and he nodded yes. At 7:30 p.m. the RN came in and stated that she would have to get some help but before she left she took the empty IV bag and brought in another one and left. I went into the bathroom at 7:35 p.m. and wet a towel and came back and opened his Depend and began wiping him myself, Betty came in and helped me clean Montell up and then she took his vitals.
Montell’s blood pressure was 99 over 68, his pulse was 89, oxygen level 98, respiration 92 and his temperature was 97.6. I thanked Betty for helping me. At 7:50 p.m. the RN returned to the room with another person but we had already cleaned Montell up. Montell was non-verbal today. I kissed Montell good night and told him I would see him tomorrow after Mother and I came from church probably around 2 p.m, he nodded his head up and down.

11/30/07 – Today I arrived at the hospital at 12:45 p.m. but didn’t get to see Montell until 3:05 p.m. because they didn’t have the necessary paperwork for me at the front desk. When I did get there Montell was lying on his right side in a fetal position. He wanted me to put his left hand up on the pillow for him and to put a pillow between his right and left legs so they didn’t touch each other. Later on Dianne the medical student came in and asked me some questions about Montell’s medical history. A team of doctors came into the room and examined Montell’s bedsores and the ulcers on his feet. Montell wanted to know what they were doing?

After they left Dianne then listened to his heart and lungs and said they sounded good. She told me that she was going to order a MRI for him and that a wound care counselor would also be checking his bedsores and the ulcers on his feet. When she was examining the area where the feeding tube is inserted Montell indicated that it was hurting him. She listened to the sounds in his stomach and said that they were very soft. After she left Montell drifted off to sleep for awhile when he woke up he wanted me to put his left hand under the pillow and lay it flat. I noticed that his output was very light yellow. When I woke him up to let him know that I would be leaving, he let me know that his mattress wasn’t comfortable to him. I told him that they were ordering him a air mattress and kissed him good night. I told him that I would be back tomorrow. Montell wasn’t very active today

Thursday, November 29, 2007

MY VISIT WITH MONTELL TODAY AND HE'S BEING TRANSPORTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS TONIGHT

11/29/07 – Today when I arrived at KSB Hospital and saw Montell he was laying on his left side. Montell was quite upset, he was crying and wanted me to do the ABCs. When I begin he was able to spell out “right hand”. I immediately looked to see what he was trying to tell me and to my surprise I saw flex cuffs on him. They had restrained his right arm to the bed and he was upset about this. He had me spell out “why and what for”. I asked Officer Miller to call the Dixon CC and ask for the warden for me. When Warden Chandler came to the phone I asked her why Montell had these flex cuffs on him. He is not supposed to be restrained and she told me that the hospital administrative staff had requested this. Later when I left the hospital I called my attorney and told him about this. I received a call later and was told that Montell had allegedly hit a nurse last week when she was giving him a shot. However, I was there from 1:05 p.m. to 3:05 p.m. and they were on him then. I received a call after he had checked into this matter and was told that the flex cuffs are only to be placed on him when the nurses are giving him a shot or
draw blood. I also noticed that Montell was getting antibodies again
Montell wanted me to turn him to his right side and when I did he want me to put his right hand in between the bed railing. I noticed that when I did this that part of the flex cuff was hitting his wrist. He also wanted his left hand inserted into the same space but that was impossible because his left arm is contracted and wouldn’t reach the hole. A RN came in and inserted some potassium through his feeding tube. I asked her what it was and she told me that his potassium was low. The she gave him a shot to keep his blood from clogging, I held his right hand. After she left Montell wanted me to put his right and left hand on his pillow so he could hold on to it, I did. He just laid there and watched me for awhile and then he drifted off to sleep. He seemed to be doing better today and he was a little verbal but it was slurred. When he woke up he wanted to watch the television and some more football. However, he drifted back off to sleep and I had to wake him up to let him know that I was leaving and that I would see him tomorrow. I kissed him and told him not to worry, we would get things straightened out.
Assistant Warden Transoco called me and told me that Montell was being transported to the University of Illinois Medical Center tonight. He told me call him or Warden Chandler and they would give me his room number in the morning.


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I FOUND MONTELL IN TERRIBLE PAIN TODAY

11/27/08 – Today as I was driving to Dixon the RN called me from KSB Hospital and told me that Montell was in a lot of pain and that they were planning on doing and MRI on him since he was non-verbal. She asked me some questions and then we decided that we would wait for me to arrive at the hospital in order to answer some more questions and sign the necessary papers.
When I arrived in Montell’s room he was moaning and crying, I tried to find out what was hurting him but he didn’t respond to the ABCs. Later they turned him to his left side and he seemed to calm down. He drifted off to sleep. The nurse told me that they couldn’t give him anything for pain because the had received his last shot at 11:15 a.m. and had to wait four hours before he could receive another one. When he woke up he was moaning and crying again and wanted me to move his left foot, I did and he calmed down and drifted off to sleep again. Later on a nurse came in and wanted to give him a shot to keep his blood from clogging but Montell refused it. I tried to tell him that he didn’t want his blood to clog, he wouldn’t let her do it. He started crying so I left him alone about getting the shot. I couldn’t keep Montell focus on doing the ABCs today because of the pain that he was in. My two hours was almost up so I woke him up to let him know that I was leaving. I never leave without letting him know I’m gone.

MONTELL NOT FEELING WELL TODAY

11/26/07 – Today when Leon and I arrived I noticed right away that Montell wasn’t feeling well. I felt his forehead and it was warm however, his right hand was cold. He was just lying in the bed moaning. I asked if something was hurting him and he nodded ‘yes”. He had his mouth opened and it seemed that he was having a hard time breathing. He was having quite a few spasms as well. A nurse came in and drew some blood. Montell is still grinding his teeth. The RN came in and took his vitals. Montell’s heart rate is 125 and it should be 80. I couldn’t keep Montell focus on doing the ABCs. Montell practically slept most of the two hours that we were with him. When it was time to leave him I kissed him and told him that we were see him tomorrow.

OVER THE THANKSGIVING WEEKEND WITH MONTELL

11/22/07 – Leon and I arrived at KSB Hospital at 1:30 p.m., when we got to Montell’s room he was lying on his left side in a fetal position. Montell was a little verbal today however, most of his speech was slurred. Montell told us that he would rather in in Stateville than go back to Dixon. He feels that they would take better care of him. A nurse came in to take his temperature but Montell wouldn’t open his mouth, he wanted her to take it from under his arm. His temperature was 97.6 and his pulse was 100. I noticed that Montell was having quite a few spasms and I wondered if they had increased his dosage of Baclofin yet. He wanted Leon to move his left leg because his right leg was lying on top of it. When Leon did this, he let us know that he felt better. Montell then spelled out football to me letting me know that he wanted to watch a game after a little while he drifted off to sleep for about fifteen minutes. When he woke up he wanted to watch a basketball game. He watched it for awhile and then he drifted off to sleep for about ten minutes. I also noticed that his lips were quite chapped and asked for vaseline to put on them. The nurse bought me some. When we were ready to leave, I kissed Montell on the forehead and told him we would be back out there tomorrow.

11/23/07 -- Leon and I arrived at KSB Hospital at 11:45 a.m. We got a chance to talk with Dr. Kahn and he told us that Montell has an infection in his blood. I asked where was it coming from? Dr. Kahn stated that he didn’t know whether it was coming from his bedsores or not. He’s giving him two types of antibodies to try and fight the infection. Montell is also receiving IV. Montell murmured that it came from the dirty wash cloth that had maggots in it at Dixon CC. Montell had told us this same thing on June 8th when we visited him. The prison denies that he ever had maggots. I then asked him if Dixon took good care of him and he shook his head from side to side indicating “No”. I then asked him if he was being taken good care of at KSB and he shook his head up and down indicating “Yes”.
The nurse came in to take Montell’s vitals. His temperature was 97.1 and his blood pressure was 95 over 62. Montell indicating to Leon that he wanted to be moved to his left side but he has to lie on his right side for two hours and then Leon could move him. Montell watched television and then Leon moved him to his left side. He indicated that he wanted the blinds opened, Leon opened them. He wanted Leon to cover him up. Montell spelled out the word “protein” and let us know that he wanted some. He had saw this on television. Later on a nurse came in and asked Montell if he wanted a flu shot and Montell shook his head from side to side indicating “no”. Montell let us know that they had taken blood four times yesterday and he didn’t want any more needles. He wanted Leon to pull his watch up on his arm, it seems today that I can’t do anything for him except say the “ABCs” he wants his brother to do everything except that. I noticed that they were feeding Montell Ensure. When it was time to leave I kissed Montell and told him we would be back tomorrow.

11/24/07 – Today when Leon and I arrived in Montell’s room he was being cleaned up. Later on he wanted Leon to move his right hand. Montell then watched a football game for a little while then he drifted off to sleep. When he woke up he wanted Leon to move his right hand so that he could hold on to the bed railing, Leon did. I noticed that Montell is still wearing the heart monitor. Montell has started grinding his teeth. There is an order that Montell doesn’t receive anything by mouth. A nurse came in and put a Texas catheter on him. Another nurse came in and took his vitals. His temperature is 98. Montell wasn’t having as many spasms as usual. He was sleeping quite a bit.. When it was time for us to leave I woke Montell up to let him know that we were leaving and would see him tomorrow.

11/25/07 -- Today when Leon, Dametra and I arrived Montell was lying in his bed on his right side. When Dametra told him that she loved him, he smiled. Dametra checked his output and said that it was good, l50 cc and that the coloring was good also. I noticed after awhile that a little tear was coming down the right side of his face. He seems to be happy with his sister and brother. I just sat back and watched them interact with each other. When Montell and I were doing the ABCs he couldn’t seem to stay focus and became frustrated and began to cry. I told him that was alright we could do them later. Then he begin rubbing his bottom lip and Dametra asked from some vaseline and put it on his lip. While doing the ABCs Montell let us know that his index finger was crooked like my father. I noticed that whenever Montell wanted anything done for him only is sister or brother could do it, I was only allowed to do the ABCs with him.
Montell drifted off to sleep for awhile. I think he was excited about being with his siblings. I know that I enjoyed having all my children in one room at the same time. We had to leave Montell so we all kissed him goodbye and I let him know that I would see him tomorrow.

Friday, November 23, 2007

MONTELL TAKEN BACK TO KSB HOSPITAL AND MY DEMORALIZING EPISODE WITH OFFICER HELLEFINGER

11-21-07 – I called Dixon CC at 9:30 a.m. to try and reach Dr. Ngu., the call went into voice-mail so I hung up. I called again at 11:20 a.m. and was able to speak with Dr. Ngu. He told me that he was getting ready to order an ambulance and have Montell transported to KSB Hospital because his feeding tube was clogged, his enzyme levels were high and he had a temperature of 100.4. I asked how much did he weigh now and he told me that Montell only weighs 78 pounds. I told him that I was on my way out to the hospital. About ten or fifteen minutes later Warden Chandler call to let me know, I told her that I had talked with Dr. Ngu and was aware of the situation and was on my way there.
When I arrived at KSB Hospital I went to the front desk phone and dialed “Admitting”. I was told that Montell was in Room 418 so I caught the elevator and went to the fourth floor. When I got to the room Officer D. Ford came to the door. He informed me that a female officer would be coming over to search me. I told him that I didn’t understand why we had to go through this procedure because when Montell was at the University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago I didn’t have to be searched. He asked me to take my purse back to the car and only bring in my ID and car keys, I did. When I arrived back to the room a female officer was there. Her name was Officer Hellefinger. I told her the same thing that I had told Officer D. Ford and she stated that I was acting like a two-year old about the whole situation. I told her that she needed to be careful of how she spoke to people, she could end up without a job. She told me that if I wanted to see Montell I had to apologize for telling her that, I did. However, to add insult to injury she proceeded to search me in the hallway outside of Montell’s room, where the nursing staff and other visitors was coming and going. This was demoralizing to me. I’m not an inmate and I shouldn’t have been treated like that. All she had to do was go down the hall and into a little waiting room or the bathroom to do this. After searching me instead of going back to the prison facilities like the other officers had done previously, she came into the room. There was two trays of food there, she lifted the cover of one tray and sat down and proceeded to eat the meal. After she finished she told Officer D. Ford that she was going back to the prison.
Montell was lying in a fetal position on his right side and he looked so helpless. He forehead was sweaty and his right hand was warm but he kept trying to let me know that he was cold. I requested more blankets in order to cover him up. Later on a nurse came in and removed them because she said he was dehydrated and having the blanket on him would make it worst. He was having quite a few spasms and was in terrible pain. His feeding tube was out, he had IV and antibodies going into his body. He kept complaining about a headache I would kiss his forehead and rub it for him. When I stopped he would start back moaning and I would do the same thing over and over. I asked Montell if he was feeling better since he had the IV and antibodies going into his body and he nodded “yes”. I asked him if he had eaten today by mouth and he nodded “yes”. I asked if he had been given Baclofin today for his spasms because I had noticed he was having them more regular and he nodded “yes” I also noticed that his bottom lip was chapped. When my two hour visit was up, I kissed Montell and told him to hang on in there and that Leon and I would be out there tomorrow.




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Tuesday, November 20, 2007

CONVERSATION WITH WARDEN CHANDLER AND LEON AND MY VISIT WITH MONTELL

11/19/07 – I called Warden Chandlers’ office at 12:21 p.m. and asked to speak with her about some issues concerning Montell. I was told that she wasn’t in at the present time so I left my name and telephone number. I called Dr. Ngu at 2:36 p.m. and Lynne answered the phone. I asked to speak with him but Lynne told me that he would be in tomorrow at 8 a.m. I then hung up and dialed the facilities again and asked for Warden Chandler. When I asked the female whom was I speaking with, she informed me an officer and told me to hold on. I held the phone for two minutes and the officer came back on the phone and told me that Warden Chandler would be right with me. After a few minutes Assistant Warden Transoco came on the line and I informed him that I was waiting to talk with Warden Chandler. He hung up and after a few minutes a male officer came on the line and told me it would be a second. Warden Chandler picked up the phone at 2:44 p.m. I asked her why I was only permitted to see Montell for two hours when other inmates are allowed a four- hour visit. She stated “because I’m in her facility and visiting hours are from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. for infirmary visits. She said every other inmate in the infirmary only get two visits a month whereas I get four weekend visits per month and two-week day visits. She stated that she’s was not going to allow me a four-hour visit. I told her that I don’t even get my full two-hour visit when I come. I then told her that I appreciated what she’s doing. I also told her about being asked to leave the room when the medical staff come to help Montell and having to walk down the hall and through the double doors. She said she would be meeting with them about this tomorrow.
11-20-07 – Today Leon and I arrived at the facility at 12:50 p.m. Officer C. Hill escorted us to the infirmary. When we arrived there at 1:15 p.m. Montell was lying on his right side with his mouth wide open. He was breathing real hard. The “call button was on his right side but not placed where he could reach it if he needed to. The pillow had cover on it. I kissed him and stood back to see how he would react to seeing his brother. For the next 45 minutes Montell didn’t do anything but stare at Leon while Leon was holding his hand, talking to him and rubbing his arm. I noticed that Montell was having quite a few spasms in his upper and lower body, I asked him if he had been given some medicine for his spasms and he shook his head “no”. I stepped around to the left side of the bed. I notice that the Wound Vacuum machine was still running, the cylinder was clean and there wasn’t anything in the tubing. I also felt Montell’s forehead, he was real sweaty and his hand and forehead were both warm. I noticed that the Texas catheter was no longer there and saw a urinal hanging from the bed. I then asked Montell if he had to lie in his urine for any long period of time and he shook his head from side to side indicating “no”. The nurse informed Officer Hill at 2:15 p.m. that she needed to reposition Montell so we stepped out the room and walked down the hall and through the double doors. When we returned to the room at 2:20 p.m. Montell was lying on his left side and moaning. The “call button” was placed where he could reach it. I asked Montell if he had eaten anything by mouth and he nodded “yes”. Montell indicated to me hat he wanted to do the ABCs. After going through them twice and he didn’t pick out a letter I asked him if he wanted to continue and he shook his head “no” After a while he wanted to do the ABCs, he wanted his “hat”. Officer Hill went to the nurses’ station to get it for us and he was informed that Montell didn’t have a hat. Montell usually wears his hat and gloves. We had to leave at 2:50 p.m. I told Montell that we would be spending Thanksgiving with him and I kissed him and we left the room and headed back to the main gate.
When we got to the car I immediately dialed the phone and asked for Dr Ngu. When he came to the phone I asked him the following questions: Did they remove the Texas Catheter because Montell had a urinary tract infection? (No answer.) I asked him if Montell was still getting medicine for his spasms and why wasn’t he still getting Copaxone. He stated that he was getting medicine for his spasms and he would have to check on the Copaxone. I asked him if Montell had a temperature because he felt warm to me. He stated that it could be coming from his bedsores. I asked him how much did he weigh and got no answer. Dr. Ngu stated that he hadn’t seen Montell today but would be doing so later on, he then told me to call him tomorrow morning after 9 a.m. I am concerned because Montell is losing his color and i don’t like the fact that he’s breathing real hard and that the spasms seemed to be getting worse.



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Sunday, November 18, 2007

MY VISIT WITH MONTELL TODAY

11/18/07 – Today I arrived at the main gate at 12:47 p.m. Officer Pearson escorted me to the infirmary we arrived there at 1:20 p.m. Montell was lying on his left side and the “call button” was wrapped around the right side railing. I went around to the left side of the bed to kiss him. I noticed that the Wound Vacuum machine’s cylinder was cleaned and that the tubing coming from his wounds (bedsores) was clear. There was no odor today. Montell tried to reach the railing with his right hand and I helped him. I also noticed that his teeth are turning yellow. There was a folding screen in his room today. I wonder what for? Today the pillow that Montell’ s head was on was covered. I asked him if it’s that way everyday and he nodded “no”. I asked him if he had eaten by mouth today and he nodded “yes”. I noticed that he was having quite a few spasms and when he had them he would began to cry. I asked if they were hurting him and he nodded “yes”. I asked him to hold my hand and let me share some of his pain. I held his hand and placed my hand on his forehand and he felt warm as well as his hand. I asked him if he was feeling well and he nodded “yes”. I asked him if he wanted to do the ABCs and he nodded “no” so I told him to let me know when he wanted to do them with me.

Montell begin staring at the cards in his windowsill, I asked him if he wanted me to read them to him. He nodded “yes” so I began reading them to him. The male guard who sits in the nurses’ station (short, stocky with brown hair) came into the room at 1:40 p.m. and told me that I was not supposed to touch anything in the room. I informed him that I was reading the cards to Montell and he stated that someone had already read him the cards. There was also some pictures of cats that someone had sent him. Montell wanted me to do the ABCs he let me know that he wanted his pillow repositioned under his head. I noticed that his lips were chapped.

At 2 p.m. the nurse told Officer Pearson that she needed to reposition Montell and that I had to leave the room, I did. We walked down the hall and through the double doors. When I arrived back in the room at 2:07 p.m. Montell was lying on his right side. Montell drifted off to sleep for 35 minutes. When he woke up he wanted me to place his pillow so that his head would lay in the middle instead of on the edge where the nurse had placed it. I told him that Leon and I would be see him on Tuesday and that we plan to spend Thanksgiving with him. At 2:47 p.m. someone from the nurses’ staff office informed Officer Pearson that visited was up. I am supposed to have visiting privileges with Montell for two hours. It doesn’t matter if I get there early or not, I never get to spend my full two hours with Montell. I kissed him and told him that I loved him and left. I arrived back at the main gate and signed out at 2:54 p.m. I found out today that the some of the inmates are given four hours visiting privileges.



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Friday, November 16, 2007

DAMETRA AND I VISITED MONTELL TODAY

11/15/07 – This morning I called Lynne and told her that Dametra and I would be coming tomorrow. I also gave her the following dates: 11/18 – I would be coming; 11/20 and 11/22 Leon (were not sure which date he would be here but he told me to put him down for both dates) and I would be coming.
11/16/07 – Today I arrived at the main gate and signed in at 1:05 p.m. along with Dametra. Officer Spong escorted us to the infirmary. When we arrived there at 1:30 p.m. Montell was lying on his left side with a small pillow under his head that had no pillowcase or any other covering over it. I also noticed that the “call button” was dangling from the right side of the bed and there was no way he could reach it if he needed help. As I walked around the left side of the bed to kiss him I noticed that there was a strange odor on that side of the bed. The Wound Vacuum machine was running and Dametra observed that nothing was coming out of it into the plastic tubing however, there was some blood about three feet from Montell in the tubing that was almost dried up as well. I also observed that the blood that was in the cylinder was dry up and exactly like it looked on Tuesday when I visited him. Dametra told me that the odor I smelled was coming from the wounds (bedsores) on Montell’s body. She said that there nothing that could be done about that. She stated that since the plastic tubing didn’t have much in it that that was a good sign. I asked Montell if he had eaten today by mouth and he nodded ‘yes”. I felt his hands and forehead and he felt warm which isn’t normal because his body is usually cold. After a little while Montell let me know that he wanted to move to his right side. I walked over to the right side of the bed and lifted the call button up and pushed it. When the nurse (blue pants and top with brown hair and no name tag on) came she informed me that they had just moved him a little while ago. Dametra and I stepped out the room however, she informed Officer Spong that we had to go down the hall and through the double doors again we did. When we returned to the room I still observed that the call button was still dangling and that there was no way Montell could reach it. Also Dametra noticed that Montell didn’t have the Texas Catheter on. Montell drifted off to sleep for about 35 minutes. When he woke up he let me know through the ABCs that he wanted some food. He also let me know that he wanted to be pulled up in the bed so I rang the “call button” again we had to go down hall and through the double doors. The “call button” was still dangling where he couldn’t reach it if he needed too. Officer Spong asked the male guard in the nurses’ office to be relieved at 3:00 p.m. since Dametra and I were supposed to have a two-hour visit. At 2:20 p.m. the guard (short, stocky, with brown hair and no name tag on) came into the room and stated that he had spoken with Assistant Warden Transoco and he had been told that we had to leave at 3 p.m. since visiting hours are over at that time. At 2:40 p.m. Montell wanted to be moved to his left side so we stepped out the room and down the hall and through the double doors for the third time during our visit. When we back to his room I noticed that this time he had his “call button” where he could reach it. At 2:50 p.m. we had to leave Montell so we both kissed him and I told him that I would see him on Sunday. As we were walking back to the main gate Dametra told me that she noticed that Montell face was smaller now then when she saw him on Wednesday, November 7th at the University of Illinois Medical Center.


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Tuesday, November 13, 2007

GETTING VISITATION AND VISITING MONTELL TODAY

11/12/07 – Warden Chandler told me last Thursday that she needed 24-hour notice of my visits with Montell. I called Dixon Correctional Facility at 8:30 a.m. and dialed “7” nad then "5" for Clinical Services but their voice-mail came on and I hung up. I then called back to the facility and this time I dialed “5” for the Warden’s office, however, they also had voice-mail on so I left a message that I would be coming tomorrow 11/13/07. When I didn’t hear from the Warden’s office by 2:45 p.m. I called Dixon again and asked for whoever was in charge. Officer Taylor from the armory answered the phone but some how we got disconnected, so I called back again and this time Counselor Levy answered the phone and told me that there was nobody there to give me clearance for visiting Montell tomorrow. I hung up, called back again, this time I got Ms. Murphy told me that she did not have the authority to authorize my visit. However, she stated that she would take my name and number and e-mail the Warden as well as call her in the morning regarding my visit tomorrow.
11/13/07 – I called Dixon at 8:15 a.m. and asked to speak to the Warden. Diane answered the phone and told me that Warden Chandler was not in today however, I could come out to see Montell. I told her that I needed to bring some paperwork out for Montell to sign. She stated that she would have to have Mr. Callahan get back to me regarding me bringing out something for Montell to sign and that he was in a meeting. I told her that I was getting ready to leave for Dixon and to have him call me on my cell phone and I gave her my number.

I arrived at Dixon at 12:45 p.m. and was told by Officer C. Dunn that I had to leave the documents at the front desk. I told her “no” I needed to call my attorney who had told me that I had clearance to bring in the paperwork. She told me that I was always creating some sort of problem, then she stated that she had to call the assistant warden. I told her that their legal department had cleared the matter with my attorney. She made a telephone call. When she came back she told me that she needed to see the documents. Then she told me that I could take them in and I told her that my attorney said that someone from their staff would witness and notarized the document for me. She said she would call and let them know that. We went into the room for her to search me. While we were there I told her that I have never came out there and tried to break any of their rules, I believe in following rules, not breaking them. However, before they start jumping to conclusions they should find out what they are talking about before they confront a person in the matter that they do

Officer Newstrand came and escorted me over to the infirmary we got at around 1:25 p.m. and Montell was lying in a fetal position on his left side watching TV. I asked him how he felt and and through the ABCs spelled out “Ok” however his right hand and forehead felt warm to me. He kept looking at the Wound vacuum machine and frowning. I asked if the noise was bothering him and he nodded “yes”. I told him that if he got some earplugs he wouldn’t be able to hear the radio or TV. I also noticed that the “call button" was dangling on the right side of his bed where he couldn’t reach it if he needed to, so I moved it to his left side and pinned it with the clip to the pillow where he would be able to reach it. I asked if he had eaten anything by mouth today and he nodded his head up and down. He kept looking at a plastic cup in the window sill so I started saying the ABCs. He let me know that he wanted some water. I tried to get him to sipp through the straw but he got strangled so I put the cup back in the window sill.

Ms. Mary Woodard came in for us to try and get Montell to sign the paperwork. It took quite a while and he seemed to get frustrated. He wanted me to hold his hand so he would press harder on the paper with the pen but I was told that I couldn’t. Ms. Woodard went out to find out what could be done.

Meanwhile Montell told me that his right foot was hurting so I rang for the nurse to come in to help him. When she came in she immediately told me that I had to leave the room and go down the hall and through the double doors. She had blonde hair with a handkerchief tied around her head (and of course no name tag on) and she was dressed in a floral pink top with white sleeves, and black pants. As I was writing down a description of her Officer Newstrand informed me that I couldn’t take notes. I told him that this was the way that I communicated with my son. When I went back into the room I asked Montell her name and he told me through the ABCs that it was Nina.

Ms. Woodard came back in and hand me a black marker, I placed it in Montell’s right hand and he was able to make a mark on the paper that I had bought out there for him to sign. Montell wanted me to turn his radio on, I did. I noticed that Montell was having quite a few spasms and whenever they occurred he would start frowning as if he wanted to cry I placed my hand on his right leg and told him to let mommy take the pain away from him. Montell closed his eyes and rested for awhile. He woke up and wanted his right hand covered up I did but he put it back out through a hole that was in the blanket, He then wanted me to help him reach the left railing with his right hand, it seems as if he was trying to take the pressure off of his left hip. I helped him put his hand on the railing but he was only able to hold on for a little while. At 2:50 p.m. Officer Newstrand told me that my visit was up, I kissed Montell and told him that I would see him on Friday. I also told him to close his eyes and he could always see me and I left.


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Sunday, November 11, 2007

MY VISIT WITH MONTELL TODAY AND ENCOUNTER WITH RUDE NURSE

11/11/07 – Today I arrived at Dixon Correction Center at 12:45 p.m. when I entered the Main Gate Office I was told by Officer C. Dunn that she had no clearance for me to visit Montell she stated that she was not going to deny me though. She then called someone and when she came back to the desk I told her that I had told Warden Chandler that I would be coming Sunday when I talked to her on Thursday morning. She then called the infirmary and told them I was there. Officer C. Simpson escorted me to the infirmary.

When I arrived there, a nurse was in his room so I stood outside the door until she finished doing whatever she was doing. As I entered his room I noticed that there was a “Kangaroo feeding machine” in his room, I also heard a loud sounding machine. Montell was lying on his right side so I went over and kissed him. He wanted to do the ABCs. He was able o spell out the “sound” referring to the machine. There was also a TV in his room but it wasn’t hooked up and he wanted it to be. I told him I didn’t see a extension cord nor a socket to plug it in so I couldn’t it on. He then motioned for me to turn on the radio, I did. I asked him if he felt well today and he nodded his head from side to side indicating “no”. As I sat down beside his bed I noticed that his call button was wrapped around the bed railing below his waist and if he needed help, he would not be able to reach the button so I moved it so he could use it. I then stepped over to see what the machine was that was hooked up to him and making that noise. A nurse (with no nametag on) dressed in navy blue pants and shirt with brown hair came in and hollered at me not to touch it. I told her that I was looking at it and not touching it. She left the room. The machine that Montell is hooked up to is a “Blue Sky Versatile Wound Vacuum System” for his bedsores I noticed that the container seemed to have some blood in it. I asked Montell if he was eating by mouth as well and he nodded up and down.

Montell pointed to his left side indicating that he wanted to be turned. I pushed the call button and the nurse came back in and I left the room and stood outside the door. When I returned to the room Montell had me saying the ABCs and he then drifted off to sleep for about 40 minutes, when he woke up he indicating that his right knee was hurting so I got up to move his knee out of the position it was in. The nurse came in again hollering at me to get out the room because she didn’t want me touching his wounds. As if she thought I was stupid enough to do anything to hurt Montell. She then ordered me to step out the room and go down the hall through the double doors. Then I told her that Warden Chandler had told me that all this going down the hall and through the double doors wasn’t necessary and I sat down in the chair. She went back into the nurses’ station without helping Montell. So I decided after a few seconds to go down the hall and through the double doors. I asked Officer Simpson to escort me in order for her to go into Montell’s room and help him. When I returned I told her that I would be reporting all this Warden Chandler in the morning. I feel that Warden Chandler needs to informed her medical staff that she has asked me to step out the room when the medical staff are helping Montell because as she told me, “all this other stuff isn’t necessary". I have enough to deal with besides being approached by rude and unprofessional medical staff personnel. I don’t holler at them and I don’t want them hollering at me.


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Thursday, November 8, 2007

MY VISIT WITH MONTELL TODAH

11/8/07 – This morning at 8:01 a.m. I called Warden Chandler’s office and Lori answered the phone I told her that I would be coming down there to see Montell at 1 p.m. today. She told me that I needed a clearance, I told her that Warden Chandler had told me I could come two days during the week and one day on the weekend. She told me she had to check and asked me to hold the line. When she came back on the line she told me that the Warden was on her way in and ask me to hold. When Warden Chandler got on the phone she told me that I just couldn’t call and give her a two-hour notice. I told her that I was making a courtesy call to let her know that I would be in today. I also reminded her of the visitation schedule that she had previously given me. She then stated that I knew that I was coming yesterday because I had called Springfield about the possible move of Montell and had told them that I didn’t want him to go back there to die, which I had. She then stated that she needed to be notified of my visits 24 hours before I came. I also let her know that I would be there this coming Sunday also.

I told her that this had been a rumor for two days however, I’m not known to act on rumors. The hospital staff told me that Montell was being discharged sometime that day when I tried to get them to notify the American Red Cross in order for Leon to be able to come home and be with Montell. This is when I called Springfield to find out if someone could intercede with Montell being transported back to Dixon. The doctor told me that Montell was too weak for any more surgeries at this time and would be returning back to Dixon. I was told that Dixon had been calling about returning him since Monday. He did have the surgery until Tuesday afternoon and I understand they were planning on returning him then.

I arrived at Dixon’s facility at 1 p.m. When I arrived at the Infirmary at 1:20 p.m. I saw Montell lying in the bed on his right side listening to the radio. I noticed that he didn’t have any IV or antibiotics going into his body. Montell’s medical reports states that this should be a long-term procedure. The officer assigned to that floor came in and turned his radio off. Montell let me know that he wanted to hear some more music so I turned it by on. I asked him if he had eaten anything today and he nodded “yes”. I constantly tell him he has to eat to get muscles for me since he tells me I’m his strength.

While sitting besides his bed I noticed that he was having spasms in his upper and lower body. Usually they’re in his legs. Montell wanted to be turnover so I stepped out the room so the nurse and inmate could turn and clean him. After they finished I went back into the room and Montell drifted off to sleep for about fifteen minutes. He then woke up and looked for me. I held his right hand which was unusually warm and assured him that I would never leave him without letting him know. Montell wanted me to say the ABCs and had me repeat them three times and I noticed that he had drifted off to sleep again. He woke up again and told me he wanted a television. I had to leave him at 2:50 p.m. but I told him that I would be back on Sunday and that if he closed his eyes he could see me at all times. I kissed him and walked back to the main gate with the officer.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

MONTELL RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL AND TAKEN BACK TO PRISON

11/7/07– Today when I arrived at the hospital Dametra was with him. The rumor I heard yesterday became a reality today. Yes, Montell was going to be taken back to Dixon Correctional Center sometime today. I talked with Dr. Amissi Patel and she stated that Montell was too weak to have any more surgeries and that they were releasing him. I told her that with the feeding tube in him they were just setting him up to die. He wouldn’t have been in this condition in the first place if they had taken care of him. I spent most of the day trying to contact people to have them stop this move back to Dixon. Montell just laid in my arms and held my hand. He wanted to do the ABCs and we did. I stayed until the ambulance people came to get him and helped dress him for the trip back to Dixon. I left before they did because I couldn’t take seeing them take him back there and I didn’t want him to see the tears streaming down my face. Lord please help us.

MONTELL HAS SURGERY TODAY

11/6/07 – Today I arrived in Montell’s room at 12:00 p.m. and found out that he had left for surgery at 11:45 a.m. and he didn’t return until 2:45 p.m. Dr. Amissi Patel came into Montell’s room and talked with me. She questioned me about putting the feeding tube in Montell. She ask me “what kind of quality of life would he have”. This statement shocked me because I’ve always thought doctors took an oath to save lives and that God is the only person who should decide whether a person lives or dies not man. I told her that I had Montell’s power of attorney and that he’s incapable of making sound decisions when it comes to his medical needs. I told her that Dr. Kohn had verified this and that there was a copy of his notes from his examination on October 20th. I told her that she could go and check Montell’s records which I had bought Dr. Kohn’s evaluation of him today and gave to Dr. Batchu. She stated that she was going to check them.
There’s a rumor going around that Montell will be sent back to Dixon Correctional Center tomorrow, I understand that they wanted to take his this evening but decided to wait until tomorrow because he had surgery today. I don’t understand this because Montell is still getting IV and antibiotics. Annie from pharmacy came in re: medication. Montell is taking medicine for the spasms he get a terrible headache. They started giving him Tyenol and he stopped crying after that. His blood pressure was 108/67, pulse 62 and temperature 97.8. When I left the hospital they hadn’t began to feed Montell because they were waiting to hear sound in his stomach, however, I called back and 9:15 p.m. and the nurse told me they had started feeding him. When I left him he was spelling out that he wanted some food.

CONFUSION ABOUT MY VISITING PRIVILEGES WITH MONTELL

11/5/07 – Today when I arrived at the hospital at 12:15 p.m. and I saw Lt. Tony Davis in the lobby and he informed me that I only could visit Montell for two hours. I told him that this was wrong because I had been there Saturday and Sunday and had stayed all day. I went outside the hospital and called Venita Wright’s office about this. Her secretary Dawn answered the phone and she told me that she could answer any questions that I had. I told that this was a personal matter and I needed to talk with Ms. Wright. I explained to her that I needed to be in the room with Montell in order to interact with the doctors and nurses because most of the time he is non-verbal and he really don’t trust people because of what he’s been through. I told her I was supposed to be there, I had his “durable power of attorney for all medical matters. We must have stayed on the phone for over fifteen minutes and she was still insisting that she was the person I needed to talk with. I told her “No” that Ms. Wright was the person I needed to talk too, she then announced that she was finishing this call and then hung the phone up on me.
I went back into the hospital and went to the front desk, the lady behind the desk told me that I could go up. She flipped through a book and there was a letter in there allowing me to visit Montell. I asked for copy and she told me that I needed to talk with her supervisor. So we went to his office and he said it was ok for me to have a copy. Imagine my surprise when I read that I could be there from 8 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. signed by Ms. Venita Wright. However, the hospital’s visiting hours are from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
I finally made it to Montell’s room about 2:45 p.m., Officer Morgan told me that I could visit Montell and leave and come back in an hour. I told him that I had a copy of Ms. Wright’s letter and no where did it state that procedure in her letter. Dr. Batchu came in and I asked him for a letter stating that they needed me to be there in order to for them to interact with Montell. Dr. Amy Nguyen came in and spoke with me. She told me that she would be inserting the “G-Tube” in Montell. This has to be done because Montell’s food intake is next to none. Today I couldn’t get him to practically anything. I have to do something.

UPDATE ON MONTELL IN HOSPITAL

11/4/07 – Today when I arrived at the hospital to see Montell there was some confusion as to whether or not I would be permitted to see Montell because there was no paperwork stating that I was allowed to see him.
When I arrived at Montell’s room he was lying in the bed and noticed that he had IV and antibiotics inserts into his left arm. I saw Dr. Batchu and he asked me a lot of medical questions about Montell. He told me that Dixon hadn’t sent any medical records. The only one he could find was from Dr. Skias who looked at Montell for the IDOC at the U of I and they were vague. I told him that Montell had been at KSB Hospital in Dixon and that I had those records and would have my Attorney get a copy for them. I as told him that I have a copy of Dr Kohn’s notes and would give him those myself. Montell’s breakfast tray was still in his room and I looked under the tray’s cover. Montell had only eaten maybe a fork full of his pureed French toast but nobody had bother to put the syrup over that. For lunch I fed him a little of his pureed carrots, about 3 ounces of his thickened grape juice, three-fourth of his applesauce and about 2 ounces vanilla dairy thicken. Today I also noticed that Montell had 12 scars on his right arm from the handcuffs being on him at KSB Hospital.
The Wound Care Therapist came in an examined Montell’s bedsores. She redressed his wounds and told me that the plastic surgeon would decide whether or not he needed surgery.

Saturday, November 3, 2007

MONTELL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS HOSPITAL

11/2/07 – Warden Chandler called me at 7:53 p.m. and told me that Montell would be coming to the University of Illinois some time in the morning.
11/3/07 – Warden Chandler called me this morning at 9:45 a.m. and said that Montell had left for the University of Illinois. She also told me that I was the only one in the family who would be permit to visit him. Montell is in Room 724E, 1740 W. Taylor Street, Chicago,IL 60612. Please send him cards.

When I arrived at the hospital and saw him I knew that he wasn’t feeling well. His body was quite warm and he kept asking for water I tried to get him to drink through a straw but he was unable too. He wanted me to pour it in his mouth, I tried pouring a little into his mouth but he got strangled. Montell was not handcuffed to the bed this time. I tried to get him to eat his lunch but he only ate the pureed banana. For dinner I could only get him to eat the thickened apple juice, a few teaspoons of mashed potatoes and gravy and about three ounces of the thickened Ensure Plus. I noticed that his bed told exactly what he weighted. He only weighs 86.5 pounds. When they took his temperature,it was 100.8 and his pressure was 88 over 60.
KSB Hospital had built up his body and he did have an appetite, after almost eight days at Dixon he seems to be back where he started from.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

MONTELL WASN'T FEELING WELL TODAY.

11/01/07 –- Today I visited Montell. Officer Schott escorted me to the Infirmary. When we got to Montell’s room he was lying in a fetal position on his right side. I asked him if he felt well and he shook his head “no’. He then reached for my hand so that he could hold it. I noticed that he was extremely warm which is quite unusual because normally his body is cold. I asked what his temperature was but no one bother to tell me while I was there. I pulled one of his blankets down but he wanted it back up around his neck and also wanted me to hold his hand under the blankets as well. I also noticed and timed that he was having spasms quite often. He had 47 spasms within a ten minutes timeframe in his left leg. His left leg was lying on top of his right leg and there was a pillow separating them. The spasms constantly came in his left leg while I was there. Whenever Montell wanted to do the ABCs he kept spelling out that his tongue hurt. I asked him if they were giving him medicine for his tongue and he nodded “yes”. He wanted to be repositioned twice (pushed up in the bed), the first time I was permitted to stay in the room however, the second time the guard came in and told me that I had to step out the room. For the life of me I can’t figure out why this is necessary, I’m not crazy enough to try and do something to someone who’s helping my child. The porter forgot to put the large pillow under his head so I did.
Warden Chandler came into his room and spoke to him and left me some paper and pens in his tray table as promised. I asked him if he had been told how much he weighed and started counting from a 100 when I got 105 he nodded that was what he weighed. I told him that I had heard that he would be coming to the University of Illinois again sometime next week and asked him if he would be enjoying the ride and he nodded “yes”. I asked him if he was eating all his food and he nodded “yes”. When it was almost time for me to leave him I told him that I wouldn’t be there tomorrow but he could always closed his eyes and see me and he nodded “yes”. I also told him that even though I’m not allowed to be there every day with him that I could be there in the spirit and nobody could take that away from us. I then kissed him and Officer C. Masters escorted me back to the main gate.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH WARDEN CHANDLER

10/30/07 – I called the prison at 9:15 a.m. to find out how Montell was doing. I talked with Lynne in Medical and she stated she couldn’t tell me anything, I needed to talk with Warden Chandler. I asked her to transfer me to her office. The secretary told me that Warden Chandler was on the phone, so I asked her to have her call me on my cell phone and left my number. I received a call from the Warden at 4:28 p.m. She stated that she had been quite busy today however, she had been in the Infirmary but did not check on Montell. She told me that she had fed him some sherbet on Monday and she would continue to feed him all the sherbet and pudding he would eat. I told her that when I arrived at the main gate yesterday Officer C. Dunn immediately told me that I was supposed to visit Montell on Wednesday. I responded by telling her she needed to check with the Warden, she did. I also told her about being escorted down the hall whenever the nursing staff was in Montell’s room. I feel that this isn’t necessary for I am not crazy enough to do anything to anyone who is trying to help him. She assured me that this would not happen again. She also told me that I wouldn’t have to ask for paper and pens again that there would be some in Montell’s room at all times. Personally, I feel that some of her staff need some “Sensitivity and Interpersonal Skill Training” for they have no idea how to deal with the public.

PRISON VISITS WITH MONTELL 10/27 THROUGH 10/29

10/27/07 – Today I arrived at the prison and was escorted to the infirmary. When we got there Montell was in the laundry room/visiting room for me in his gerry chair. He had a knit cap on, hospital gown that wasn’t fasten at the shoulders (he usually have on his long sleeve thermal shirt), no socks on his feet (his right foot was touching the cold floor and one blue blanket over him. I tried to pull the blanket down and cover up his foot. The room was cold and Montell kept saying he was cold, even I was cold and I had on a knit long sleeve sweater.. There was nobody around except me, him and the guard. Today the washer and dryer were both going for about an hour. I asked Montell if he was trying to eat because he needed strong muscles and he knob his head up and down. He then wanted me to do the ABCs and he spelled out “that I was his strength”. As I was driving back I thought of this and it made me smile. I only stayed for an hour and twenty minutes because he was getting weak and wanted to go back to his room, so I asked the guard to escort me back to the main gate. For the life of me I can’t understand why they just didn’t let him stay in his room and I visit him there, he would have been more comfortable. When I got to my car I called the prison back and spoke to a Lieutenant Mekeel and told him about the visiting situation. I told him that they were well aware of the fact that Montell had just gotten out the hospital yesterday and ask him if they were trying to make him get pneumonia now. Montell is very weak and we will have to do the surgeries soon. I don’t want him to get any more infections. KSB Hospital has done a tremendous job in bringing him back from near death and I don’t want the prison to put him back in the same situation.
10/28/07 – Today I visited with Montell. I was escorted to the infirmary by a guard. When we arrived at the infirmary, we went straight to the laundry/visiting room which was still cold. As I approached the area where Montell was at I could hear the dryer going. Montell was lying in the gerry chair. He had two blankets on him, a knit cap, socks and his thermal shirt on. Montell was a little verbal today but it was hard trying to figure out what he was saying. When I couldn’t he would start crying. I tried to encourage him to do the ABCs. Montell spelled out to me that he hated that gerry chair and wanted to go back to his room. He wants to know why I can’t visit him in his room. I told him I would call and ask Warden Chandler in the morning, since she once told me she had no problem with me visiting him there. When Montell is in the gerry chair he lying directly on his bedsores and he’s uncomfortable. Montell is getting his color back and his eyes look much better however, he really needs to be shaved. I asked him if he was eating to get muscles for me and he nodded his head up and down. I noticed that he was having quite a few spasms which seemed to be wearing him out so after about 40 minutes I left so they could take him back to his room and he could lay on his sides rather than on his back.
10/29/07 – This morning at 8:05 a.m. I called Dixon and spoke with Warden Chandler. I asked her if I could come out and see Montell everyday because of his condition. I also asked her if I could visit him in his room because he was uncomfortable in the gerry chair because of the bedsores. She said yes I could visit him in his room. I told her that the doctor had told me that he only had three months to live if I didn’t do anything. (So far nothing has been done about cleaning out the wounds.) I told her that Montell had told me that I was his strength and I had asked him to eat his meals in order to get strong muscles for me. She stated that nobody visits the facilities everyday and then said that she would have to find something out and get back to me. I told her that I needed to know at least by 10 or 10:30 a.m. in order to get there by l:00 p.m. At 9:58 a.m. she called me and said the best she could do was allowed me to come out two days during the week and one day on the weekend. I arrived at Dixon at 1:10 p.m. and got to Montell’s room at l:30 p.m. He was lying on his right side. He immediately let me know that he was unable to talk today by me going through the ABCs. He wanted to be covered up. I asked him if he was eating and he had me spell out “Why eat”. I told him that we were a team and he had to hang on in there and I would do what I had to do. He nodded his head up and down as to say “yes”. He also had me go through the ABCs and spelled out “Be real I have MS”. I told him that we could beat this if he didn’t give up. I asked him if he wanted to leave mommy and he shook his head from side to indicating “no”. He let me know that his right hand was hurting because of being handcuffed to the bed in the hospital. He wanted to be reposition in the bed and tried to ring the nurses’ station with the call button with his mouth. I told him not to do this because he would get germs. When the nurses came in I stayed in the room and they moved him around. Montell kept trying to reach the bed rail with his right hand and I noticed that he has very little strength in it now and he can’t hold on to the railings for very long. After awhile Montell began to become uncomfortable again, he said he wanted his head higher. I tried to reposition him again but wasn’t very successful. I went across the hall to the nurses’ station and a nurse came out to see what I wanted. This time the guard sitting in the station told me I had to go down the hall while they reposition Montell. I was escorted down the hall. When I got back in Montell’s room the left side of his face was buried in a pillow and he couldn’t see out of his left eye. I moved his head so he could see out of his left eye. I also noticed that Montell was having quite a few spasms and they were coming regularly. I told him that the Warden wouldn’t let me come every day and he began to cry. I told him that if he closed his eyes he could see me any time he wanted too. I told him that I would come and visit him on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays until we could get this straighten out. At 2:50 p.m. the officer told me that I had five more minutes when I should have had 35 minutes more however, he was getting off his shift and my visiting time was cut. Montell reached for my hand and held it and didn’t want to let it go, he began to cry. He didn’t want me to leave him. I kissed him and told him I loved him and he indicated the same. As I left the room tears came in my eyes. I don’t understand how people can be so uncaring.