Medical History of Dudley E Blaise Jr.
a/k/a John Snyder Blaise Shepherd
DOB: 10/03/1937 DOD: 04/02/2002
Sole Survivor: Tom Blaise Shepherd, brother.
Cause of Death: Seizure, Pneumonia,
Multiple Brain Abscesses, Paralysis
Unable to Swallow
Body of Dudley E. Blaise Jr. received by Lohmeyer Funeral Home
Cremation allegedly ordered by the State of Missouri,
Without attempting to notify his surviving brother,
Whose address and phone number were available.
Ashes allegedly placed at Veteran Memorial Cemetery
Springfield, Missouri
Note: Dudley E. Blaise
Jr.’s brother, Tom Blaise Shepherd, was not notified by hospital personnel
either before or after his brother’s death. His brother had made inquiries at
Victory Mission on January 25 and February 7, 2002, regarding Dudley’s welfare
and health. At the time, Tom left his name, phone number and address with James
E. Harriger, director of Victory Mission, with instructions to give a
letter containing the information to Dudley, instructing Dudley to contact his
brother Tom if he needed any assistance of any kind.
Cox medical records now
reveal that Dudley E. Blaise was admitted to Cox Hospital from the Missouri
Hotel, where he was temporarily residing, on February 8, 2002, two days after
his brother last contacted James E. Harriger via e-mail and on the telephone, when
Harriger reassured Tom that his brother was well and fine, that he had an
apartment of his own, and that he occasionally saw him at the library, and that
Dudley did not want Tom to have his address.
Cox records claim
hospital officials were UNABLE to locate any relatives of Dudley E. Blaise Jr.
prior to his expiration. The fact is that no attempt was even made to contact
the patient’s brother, whose Los Angeles address and phone number were
available.
816 Richmond Road
Joplin, Missouri 64801
Dudley E. Blaise Jr. was born October 3, 1937 at American
Hospital, Mexico City. He was the son of Clara Olive Snyder Blaise and Dudley Eugene
Blaise Sr., both American citizens, who were at the time owners of the El Cedro
Silver Mining Company at Guanajuato, Gto., Mexico. Prior to engaging in the
mining business in Mexico, the Blaise family had been residents of Joplin,
Missouri, where the Blaise family owned and operated the Admiralty Zinc Mining
Company. Mr. Blaise’s father deserted the family when he and his brother, Tom,
a year younger, were still infants. His mother remarried in 1949. He was a
stepson of Charles M. Shepherd, director and treasurer of the Empire District
Electric Company, who died in 1955. Mr. Blaise’s mother, Clara Olive Shepherd,
died in 1976.
Dudley E. Blaise Jr., who went by the name John Snyder
Shepherd during his junior high school and high school and early college days,
was a member of the National Honor Society at Joplin High School, where he was
editor of the school newspaper, a member of the debate team (The National
Forensic League, a member of the Latin Society (SPQR), and a member of Phi
Lambda Epsilon social fraternity. His fraternity brothers included Joplin
industrial developer Joseph Newman, who died in 2006, Dr. George Blackburn
(Harvard University), Bill Repplinger and Peter Blair of Kansas City.
He was an assistant scoutmaster at First Presbyterian Church
from the time he was 13 years old. He was an acolyte and altar boy at St.
Philip’s Episcopal Church during junior high and high school, and he was an
officer of the Young People’s Service League at St. Philip’s.
During his college years at Southwest Missouri State
University, he was employed as a campus lifeguard. He also was employed as a
newscaster for a Springfield radio station and as a production assistant for
KTTS-TV. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1962, where he served as a Spanish
interpreter to the Adjutant General at Fort Bliss, Texas. He was honorably
discharged in 1964. Following his discharge, he returned to college at
University of Oklahoma, where he obtained a B.S. degree in business
administration and finance in 1970. While a student, he was employed as a dorm
counselor, as an O.U. accountant and as a short order cook by the University.
Following his graduation, he continued working at the University as a waiter in
the Student Union, prior to his disappearance.
His
grandfather, John Abbott Snyder, was the founder of the Snyder Bus Company,
later purchased by the Crown Coach Company (Jefferson Lines). He was one of the
first members of the Joplin Rotary Club and the Joplin Chamber of Commerce.
His mother, Clara Olive Shepherd, was a well-known Joplin
civic leader. She who worked as an office assistant to Dr. Sam Grantham, as a
member of the board of directors of the Jasper County Heart Association, of the
Joplin Little Theater and of the Joplin Woman’s Club. During World War II, she
was employed at Camp Crowder in Neosho, Missouri. She also made a living as a
producer-director of musical revues for civic organizations, to include the
American Legion, Lions Clubs of America, the Jaycees and women’s clubs. She
also served in many leadership roles with the American Cancer Society, the
American Arthritis Foundation and the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.
Dudley E. Blaise-Shepherd noticed he was losing his hearing
while serving in the U.S. Army between 1962 and 1964. Following his discharge, the Mayo Clinic removed a brain tumor,
the apparent cause of his loss of hearing. However, during surgery he suffered
a stroke and lost 100% of his hearing in one ear and facial paralysis. After
receiving a B.A. degree in business administration from University of Oklahoma
in 1970, Mr. Blaise went missing. According to Cox medical records, Mr. Blaise
again underwent brain surgery at Parkland Hospital in Dallas in about 1977 or
1978, and suffered seizures and continuous drainage of cerebral puss from a
surgical hole left in the back of his head, until his death April 2, 2002.
According to his brother Tom and others, Mr. Blaise did not desire to have any
contact with any family member, including his brother from the time he dropped
out of sight in 1970, when he left Norman, Oklahoma, apparently going to Texas,
before returning to Springfield, Missouri
Cox Medical Center, 3801
S. National, Springfield, Missouri 65807
Cox Medical Records:
Note: Seven Cox Medical
Center reports follow, beginning 07/30/1996;
plus a Death Summary dated 002/04/2002. To read Death Summary first,
click on the Edit feature of your computer, then select FIND and enter Death
Summary. Your computer will automatically scroll down to Death Summary.
07/30/96
Blaise, Dudley E.
DOB: 10-03-37
DATE: 07-30-96
History of present
illness: The patient is a 58-year-old gentleman who comes to the Emergency
Department with some pain and swelling in his left leg. This gentleman has had
a varicosity in his left leg for the past 33 years. However, the other day, he
noticed that it was not as soft and fluctuant as usual and it did not go down
when he raised his leg. He has been worried by friends who tell him that this
could be a blood clot and might go to his heart and kill him. He also notices a
hard place around there. He had not noticed any problem with ambulation and
does some exercise as well to keep himself as fit as possible. This patient has
a very interesting history. He had a cholesteatoma which interfered with his
seventh and eighth cranial nerves and he has facial paralysis now. He has a
draining lesion in the back of his ear that he takes careful care of and he now
has a seizure disorder that is controlled with Dilantin. He gets his medical
care through the VA in Columbia.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION;
GENERAL: The patient is
an alert male in no distress.
VITAL SIGNS: Stable. He
is afebrile.
CHEST: Clear.
EXTREMITIES: His left
lower leg has a very prominent grape-size lesion which is apparently a
variocosity that has now thrombosed. It is not tender. It is not erythematous.
It is not indurated. He has some induration just posterior to that in the
medial aspect of the leg, but it is not tender and there is no calf tenderness
to compression and no pain with dorsiflexion of the foot. Distal neurovascular
status is intact.
The remainder of the
examination is unremarkable except for the HEENT examination with his facial
paralysis as mentioned previously.
COURSE IN THE EMERGENCY
DEPARTMENT: A Doppler study confirms that there is no deep venous thrombosis
but there is a mass that shows up that is consistent with the thrombosed
varicosity.
CLINICAL IMPRESSION:
1.
superficial
thrombophlebitis.
PLAN: I have discussed
with the patient the difference between the dangers of superficial thrombophlebitis versus a deep
venous thrombosis. I have started the patient on some Indocin 50 mg three times
a day with food and I would like for him to do warm compresses three to four
times a day as he can and I would like for him to followup with the VA Clinic
as to different treatment that may be offered, i.e., excision. The patient is
discharged in stable condition, ambulatory without limp.
366/R. Scott Kensel,
M.D./CKD: 07-31-96 evs
12/12/2000
Name: BLAISE, Dudley E.
DOB: 10/03/1937
05-01-2001
Name: BLAISE, Dudley E
DOB: 10/03/1937
No: 059610400141
Date: 05/01/2001
Hospital: NE Cox
HISTORY OF PRESENT
ILLNESS: This is a 63-year-old Caucasian male who came to the Cox Medical
Center North Emergency Department stating that he fell out of a chair at this
place of residence, which is currently the victory Mission, landing on his
outstretched right hand. He states that the flexor aspect of the distal radius
is mildly tender. The patient states that it was more tender when the accident
occurred, and has improved since then.
ALLERGIES: None.
CURRENT MEDICATIONS:
Dilantin
PAST MEDICAL HISTORY:
Epilepsy, osteoporosis, brain tumor and surgery from 20 years ago. The patient
has had a recent brain stem abscess. He ha a patch on his right eye.
REVIEW OF SYSTEMS: The
patient denies any other concerns, specifically headaches, chest pains, nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, black bloody stools, shortness of breath,
fevers, or chills. The patient states he is only here for his right arm
discomfort.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:
GENERAL APPEARANCE: The
patient is alert and oriented. He wears a
patch on his right eye. He is 100% deaf
in his right ear. He has right-sided weakness both facially and in his
arm.
HEAD, EYES, EARS, NOSE,
AND THROAT: Bilateral tympanic membranes – no erythema, no serious drainage.
Pupils are equal and reactive to light. Extraocular movements are normal.
NECK: No discomfort. No
pain to palpation. No nuchal rigidity. Nocervical adenopathy.
LUNGS: bilateral air
entry, clear.
CARDIOVASCULAR: The
heart has a regular rate and rhythm. There are no murmurs, gallops, or rubs.
ABDOMEN: Bowel sounds
are present. The abdomen is soft and nontender without masses.
EXTREMETIES: Deep tendon
reflexes are within normal limits. The patient states that his discomfort is on
the volar aspect of his right wrist, specifically over the distal radius. He is
not tender in the anatomic snuffbox and he is able to flex and extend his thumb
normally, however, it is notably weaker than the left side. The patient states
that his right side is weaker secondary to the tumor and the surgery. The
patient ha a slightly reduced range of motion of his right hand versus left,
which he stated has been a change over the last several hours. This appears to
be primarily from discomfort. He ha normal sensation, normal capillary refill.
Peripheral pulses are easily palpable. Color is normal. The range of motion of
the wrist is slightly reduced. The fingers are within normal limits, but again,
reduced grip strength.
DIAGNOSTIC STUDIES:
Right wrist x-ray was ordered, which failed to reveal any acute bony
abnormalities.
COURSE IN THE EMERGENCY
DEPARTMENT AND DISPOSITION: The patient was placed in a right wrist Velcro
splint. We discussed analgesics but he stated that he would prefer none, and
hence he was discharged with none.
CLINICAL IMPRESSION:
Right wrist contusion.
CONDITION ON DISCHARGE:
Stable.
\
35008/Dorinda L.
Faulkner, M.D./CKS
D: 05/02/2001 00:13:06
T: 05/02/2001 18:54:11
slc++++
C: 05/18/2001 vkk
02/09/2002
DOB: 10/03/1937
No: 059610400240
Date: 02/09/2002
Hospital: NER Cox
Age: 64
CHIEF COMPLAINT: Back pain.
HISTORY OF PERSENT ILLNESS: This patient is a 64-year-old
gentleman who comes to the emergency department. He was initially seen by Dr.
Orear and apparently complained to Dr. Orear about possibly having had a
seizure. He denied any complaints to Dr. Orear, however when I talked to him he
was complaining of pain in his low back. He had complained of this pain he
thinks since a week or so ago when he had a seizure. He comes now for further
evaluation.
PAST MEDICAL HISTORY: Significant for seizure disorder, a
right-sided cholesteatoma surgery that resulted in a stroke and facial
weakness.
ALLERGIES: No known allergies.
CURRENT MEDICATIONS: Dilantin.
REVIEW OF SYSTEMS: All otherwise reviewed and negative.
FAMILY AND SOCIAL HISTORY: Otherwise negative.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:
VITAL SIGNS: The patient is afebrile. Stable vital signs.
GENERAL: Alert and cooperative, in no acute distress.
HEENT: Right facial droop and weakness, second to
above-mentioned surgery.
NECK: Supple.
LUNGS: Clear.
HEART: Shows regular rate and rhythm.
ABDOMEN: Soft, nontender. No guarding or rebound.
BACK: There is tenderness diffusely throughout the lower
thoracic and predominantly through the mid lumbar spine. There is no specific
bony point tenderness, but there is tenderness all along the midline, great
than in the paravertebral musculature.
EXTREMETIES: Lower extremities have equal and symmetric
reflexes. Toes are downgoing.
NEUROLOGICAL: Cranial nerve, other than the abnormalities
mentioned above, unremarkable. Strength is equal and symmetric. Reflexes are
equal and symmetric. Toe are downgoing.
DIAGNOSTIC STUDIES: LS spine series shows a compression
fracture of L2. CT confirms this but shows no neural canal impingement. Pelvis
x-ray is negative. Dilantin level is subtherapeutic at 9.3. Chem-7 unremarkable
except for a sodium of 131 and a glucose of 111. CBC: White count 9.1 thousand,
hemoglobin 12.7, platelets 393,000.
CLLINICAL COURSE: The patient was given a dose of Cerebyx IM,
given prescription for Darvocet for his back pain. He is instructed to keep his
appointments with Dr. Swinford, and discharged from the emergency department in
stable condition.
CLINICAL IMPRESSION:
1. compression fracture L2.
2. Subtherapeutic Dilantin level.
DISPOSITION: The patient is discharged in stable condition.
384/Gregory A. Hunter, M.D./CKS
D: 02/09/2002 14:13:25
T: 02/09/2002 18:49:11 dj
Melody Swinford, M.D.
13/16/2002
Name: BLAISE, Dudley E.
DOB: 10/03/1937
No: 059610400281
Date: 03/16/2002
Hospital: SER-T Cox
HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS: The patient is a 64-year-old
white male brought to the Emergency Department by EMS. The patient states he
was seen at St. John’s Hospital just a few hours ago. The patient was leaving
there, getting into a taxi cab, when he fell. The patient is unsure how he
landed, but states he ha been having pain in his back since that time and decided to call EMS for
transport here. The patient denies having any other injuries.
PAST MEDICAL HISTORY: The Past Medical History is significant
for a seizure disorder; he ha had a brain tumor status post craniotomy.
CURRENT MEDICATIONS: Dilantin.
ALLERGIES: Phenobarbital.
SOCIAL HISTORY: The patient is staying at the Missouri Hotel.
The patient does not smoke or drink any alcohol.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:
VITAL SIGNS: Temperature 96.8. Respiratory rate 20. Pulse 92.
Blood pressure is 139/69.
GENERAL APPEARANCE: Physical examinations reveals a
64-year-old male who has a very odd affect. The patient is very slow to answer
questions, but becomes agitated and yells at times. The patient is in no acute
distress.
HEENT: The patient has evidence of a prior craniotomy on the
right. Pupils are equal, round, and reactive to light. Throat is clear.
NECK: The neck is supple.
CARDIOVASULCAR: The hear has a regular rate and rhythm with
no murmur.
LUNGS: The lungs are clear to auscultation bilaterally.
ABDOMEN: There are active bowel sounds. The abdomen is soft
and nontender.
BACK: I am unable to elicit any tenderness to palpation
throughout. The patient is unable to even tell me the area where he is having
pain.
EXTREMITIES: The extremities reveal no clubbing, cyanosis, or
edema. There is full range of motion of all joints. There is no evidence of
significant trauma.
CLINICAL IMPRESSION:
1. Fall
DISCHARGE PLAN:
1. The patient may take Tylenol or Motrin for pain.
2. 2. The patient is to follow up with his doctor.
3. The patient may return to the Emergency Department as needed.
35002/Jock Porter, M.D./CKS
D: 03?17?2002 04:54:00
T: 02/19/2002 01:40:46 bjg
03/17/2002
DOB: 10/03/1937
No: 059610400299
Date: 03/17/2002
Hospital: NER Cox
CHIEF COMPLAINT: Back pain.
HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS: The patient is a 64-year-old
gentleman who comes to the Emergency Department complaining of back pain. He
has been to the St. John’s Emergency Department and Cox Emergency Departments
at least three times in the last two days. He states his back hurts since he
fell two days ago attempting to get into a cab. He denies radiation for the
discomfort to his legs. He denies bowel or bladder problems. He presents now
for further evaluation.
PAST MEDICAL HISTORY: Significant for cerebrovascular
accident, brain tumor, right facial droop secondary to cerebrovascular
accident, and a seizure disorder.
ALLERGIES: Known allergies to PHENOBARBITAL.
CURRENT MEDICATIONS: Dilantin.
REVIEW OF SYSTEMS: The patient denies other complaints.
Denies fever, chills, vomiting, headache, or nausea. He states he feels
somewhat weak when he gets up to attempt to walk.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:
VITAL SIGNS: The patient is afebrile. Respiration rate 20,
pulse 107, blood pressure 102/62.
GENERAL: He is alert and oriented x3. He ha occasional pauses
in his speech but he is oriented x3 and certainly competent.
HEENT: Tympanic membranes are negative. Nares are patent.
There is a pronounced right facial droop and he normally looks out of only the
right eye. However, when he opens both eyes, he has a conjugate gaze and
extraocular muscles appear to be intact. Pupils are equal, round, and reactive
to light.
NECK: Supple without bruits.
LUNGS: Clear to percussion and auscultation.
HEART: Regular rate and rhythm.
ABDOMEN: Soft. Nontender.
BACK: There is tenderness to palpation in the mid lumbar
spine. There is no thoracic vertebral process discomfort to palpation. There is
no specific point tenderness to the lumbar spine. It is more diffuse and
paravertebral in nature.
PELVIS: Stable.
NEUROLOGICAL: Otherwise nofocal. He is able to ambulate
easily. Strength is equal and symmetric. Reflexes equal and symmetric. Toes are
downgoing.
DIAGNOSTIC STUDIES: LSD spine series, to my preliminary
reading, shows no change from a previous study several months ago. There is a
deformity at L2 that appear unchanged. Urinalysis has 2-5 red cells, 2-5 white
cells. Dilantin level therapeutic at 15.5. Chem-7 unremarkable except for a
glucose of 141 and a CO2 of 37. White count 5600, hemoglobin 12.7, platelets
254,000.
CLINICAL COURSE: The patient states he is homeless and
requests a social worker to discuss issues for placement and further care. A
social worker comes and the patient does not wish to avail himself of any of
the options that are available to him. He prefers to remain homeless which is
certainly within his right given his competent status. He way therefore
discharged from the Emergency Department in stable condition.
CLINICAL IMPRESSION:
1. Fall
2. 2. Low back pain.
3. 3. Homelessness.
DISPOSITION: The patient is discharged from the Emergency
Department in stable condition. He is given a prescription for Anaprox for pain
and instructed to follow up with his primary doctor, Dr. Swinford. He is
discharged in stable condition.
384/Gregory A. Hunter, M.D./CKS
D: 03/17/2002 12:50:44
T: 03/19/2002 04:44:58 acr
03/22/2002
DOB: 10/03/1937
No: 059610400315
Unit: L300-L321-01
Admitted: 10-22-2002
Physician : Allison
Heider, M.D.
CHIEF COMPLAINT:
Seizure.
HISTORY OF PRESENT
ILLNESS: This is a 64-year-old white male who is admitted from the Emergency
Department after having witnessed seizure at the Missouri Hotel earlier this
morning. The patient has a known seizure disorder after he had a “brain tumor”
removed. The patient is still somewhat a postictal state and cannot recall the
events of his seizure activity this morning very well. He does report
compliance with his Dilantin; however, this level was found to be low in the
Emergency Department. He denies any fevers, chills, nausea or vomiting.
PAST MEDICAL HISTORY:
1.
Status
post cholesteatoma removal times two (this is obtained via old records), which
has resulted in his seizure disorder.
2.
He
denies any history of hypertension or diabetes.
PAST SURGICAL HISTORY:
As above.
CURRENT MEDICATIONS:
1.
Dilantin
200 mg. p.o. b.i.d.
SOCIAL HISTORY: Obtained
through the emergency room chart, the patient live sat the Missouri Hotel. He
has been admitted in the past for increased seizure activity, and there is a
question that placement has been attempted on recent hospitalizations.
FAMILY HISTORY:
Noncontributory.
REVIEW OF SYSTGEMS: He
denies any chest pain, shortness of breath, or abdominal pain.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:
VITAL SIGNS: His
temperature is 99, his blood pressure is 143/83, his pulse is 80, respirations
16. He is 94% on room air.
GENERAL APPEARANCE: This
is a sleepy, but easily arousable white male who appears very cachetic and ill.
HEENT: Normocephalic.
There is a 2 x 2 cm hole just posterior to the right ear, which the patient
reports is from a previous surgery. His extraocular movements are intact.
Pupils are equal, round, and reactive to light. He has dry mucous membranes.
HEART: Hi has a regular
rate and rhythm without murmur.
LUNGS: Lungs are clear
to auscultation bilaterally without wheezes.
ABDOMEN: Positive bowel
sounds. Soft, nontender, nondistended.
EXTREMITIES: There is no
cyanosis, clubbing, or endema.
GENITOURINARY:
Examination reveals a 4 x 5 war-like lesion on the left side of the penile
shaft. There is no leakage from this lesion.
NEUROLOGICAL: He is
oriented to person, place and day, but cannot recall the year. His cranial
nerves II-XII are grossly intact.
LABORATORY DATA: White
blood cell count of 7.8, hemoglobin 13.9, hematocrit 39.9, platelet count
245,000. MCV is 102. Sodium is 137, potassium 4.1, chloride 102, CO2 27, BUN 7,
creatinine 0.9, glucose 116, albumin 3.2. Dilantin level is low at 2.7.
An abdominal ultrasound
performed in the Emergency Department reveals a distal abdominal aortic
aneurysm measuring 3.1 x 2.17 cm. There is no evidence of leakage from this
aneurysm. CT head without contrast was performed and reveals mild dilation of
the ventricles, which is different from an examination performed in February of
2002. There is a concern that this may be the beginnings of hydrocephalus. It
is recommended repeating a CT with contrast or performing MRI.
ASSESSMENT: This is a
64-year-old white male with seizure disorder and abdominal aortic anurysm.
PLAN: Admit to the
regular floor for continued monitoring through his postictal period. After
review of old records, the patient does have a history of having prolonged
postictal periods. Will continue his home Dilantin dose after he was loaded in
the Emergency Department. Will have physical therapy consult for strengthening
exercise.
Will obtain a Social
Services consult to consider placement and/or guardianship if necessary. Will
also discuss with the team the significance of the penile lesion and
appropriate workup.
Allison Heider, M.D.
D: 03/22/2002 15:31:36
T: 03/22/2002 15:43:09
mm
04/02/2002
DOB: 10/03/1937
No: 059610400315
Unit: N-L321-01 Cox
Admitted: 03/22/2002
Expired: 04/02/2002
Physician: Andrea Miller, M.D.
DIAGNOSIS:
1. Aspiration pneumonia.
2. Seizure disorder.
3. Cerebellar abscesses.
ADMIT HISTORY AND PHYSICAL: This is a 64-year-old male who
was admitted after having seizures at the Missouri Hotel. He ha a known seizure
disorder with a brain tumor removed and has some cerebellar abscesses. His
Dilantin level was subtherapeutic.
PAST MEDICAL/SURGICAL HISTORY:
1. Status post cholesteatoma removal times two.
2. Seizure disorder.
MEDICATIONS: Dilantin 200 mg by mouth ibid.
SOCIAL HISTORY: He lived in the Missouri Hotel.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:
VITAL SIGNS: Temperature 99.0. Blood pressure 143/83. Pulse
80. Respiratory rate is 16. Saturations at 94% on room air.
GENERAL APPEARANCE: The patient was sleepy but arousable and
very cathetic.
HEENT: Scars consistent with previous surgeries. Dry mucous
membranes.
CARDIOVASCULAR: Normal.
LUNGS: The lungs are clear to auscultation. No wheezes.
ABDOMEN: Bowel sounds are present. Benign.
EXTREMITIES: No endema.
NEUROLOGICAL: Oriented to day, person and place but not year.
Cranial nerves grossly intact.
DIAGNOSTIC STUDIES: Labs on admission show a phenytoin level
of 2.7. Sodium of 137, potassium of 4.1, chloride of 102, CO2 of 27, glucose of
116, BUN of 7 and a creatiniine of 0.9, and a calcium of 8..9. Protein total of
7.7, albumin of 3.2, bilirubin of 0.7, alkaline phosphatase of 129, ALT of 34
and AST of 23. White blood cell count was 7.8, hemoglobin was 13.9 and
hematocrit of 39.9 and platelets at 245,000.
Computerized tomography scan of the head showed some mild
dilatation of ventricles with a question of hydrocephalus.
HOSPITAL COURSE:
The patient was admitted to the floor for monitoring. He was
started on his Dilantin for his seizure disorder. Social Services was contacted
regarding this patient’s placement. During the first couple of hospital days,
he reported feeling tired but did not have any further seizure activity. He did
admit to drainage of cerebellar abscesses that were drained at St. John’s
Hospital in February 2, 2002. St. John’s Hospital was contacted and magnetic
resonance imaging report was obtained. The patient had a swallowing evaluation,
which recommended NPO for difficulty swallowing. It was felt that he was likely
aspirating.
His lung sounds became coarse and he developed a right middle
lobe infiltrate shown on chest x-ray. The patient was started on antibiotics to
treat his pneumonia and was placed on a nonrebreather mask because his O2
saturations were decreasing.
He developed a cough. The patient began to get weak over his
hospitalization. His speech became difficult to understand. He was continued on
his Dilantin and Clindamycih.
On March 28, 2002, the patient lost intravenous access and
meds were started through the nasogastric tube. He was given tube feeds. His
oxygen was weaned.
However, the patient did not have a guardian and did not seem to have any relatives that could be contacted.
On March 28, the patient was MADE A DNR.
On
March 29, the patient expressed that he no longer wanted to live.
He was refusing the nasogastric tube and oxygen. He was refusing cares and palliative care was consulted. The patient was started on pain medication, MS Contin and MSI:R. He was started on Tylenol for fevers. The patient continued to have a decline in his status.
He
had a seizure on the evening of April 1 that lasted approximately three
minutes.
On
the morning of April 2, the patient was noted to have a respiratory rate of
5-10 per minute and atachycardic at 111 having agonal breathing and he expired
in the afternoon of April 2, 2002, to be not breathing with no heart rate.
Andrea Miller, M.D.
D: 04/02/2002 17:15:24
T: 04/02/2002 21:36:32 liw
Melody Swinford, M.D.
Michael Murphy, M.D.
NOTE: Report is
signed, apparently by Dr. Miller.
From: existentialpress@compaq.net
To: information@victorymission.com
Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2002 5:33 PM
Subject: Resident/tenant: Dudley E. Blaise
To Jim Harrigar, Manager:
Please deliver this message to my brother, Dudley E. Blaise.
February 8, 2002
Dear Dudley,
I am very concerned about your health and would be willing to
come from Los Angeles to Springfield to help you get into an apartment, if you
want my help. But please advise me if you want my help. You are certainly
welcome to come here, however, I am considering moving back to Missouri myself
permanently very soon. I am also receiving Social Security and have applied for
a VA disability pension, which would be more than Social Security. And I
certainly would be willing to share it with you when and if it comes through.
I still have a lot of childhood and young adult pictures of
you, in case you are interested, plus other family photos.
Our father died in 1988 in Spring, Montgomery County, Texas,
north of Houston. To my knowledge there was no probate, and I later learned
that Marie’s $1.8 million estate was left two tax-sheltered trusts and was
largely swallowed up by her ruthless attorneys, two Houston culprits. The
sister she left it to died 10 months after Marie died, and the trusts were
dissolved, going to the Christian Science Church and the attorneys, plus a
girlfriend of her sister’s who got a $200,000 condominium, claiming she was a “companion.”
We just have to chalk that up to life. I’m sorry for both of us. We were
shafted! But we’re not the only ones who have been shafted by life!
You know, Mother loved you dearly. It broke her heart that
she never heard from you again after you visited her in the hospital when she
had her mastectomy. The next seven years were heart breaking for her, after
having lost her home, and not hearing from you. I tried to comfort her.
Please let me know if you want me to come to Springfield.
Your brother, Tom
T.M. Blaise (a/k/a Shepherd)
Correct address was provided here.
Correct phone number was listed here
P.S. Keep my address and phone number in your wallet in case
of emergency. I love you and I care about you.
NOTE: The above e-mail was indeed received by James E.
Harriger, whom I finally contacted by telephone the following day. Harriger
reassured me he would deliver the e-mail to my brother, although he told me my
brother did not want me to have his address. Harriger also indicated my brother
was doing fine. I have later learned from Cox Hospital records that he was
admitted to Cox Hospital on February 9, 2002, two days later, and readmitted on
March 16 and March 17, 2002. He died on April 2.
Since I heard nothing further from either James E. Harriger
or my brother, I assumed my brother was doing alright, and did not want any
contact with me. This was only based on what Harriger himself told me. My
brother himself never told me he did not want any contact with me.
I made another e-mail inquiry January 14, 2004 to Harriger at
the Victory Mission. No response from Harriger until I phoned. At the time,
Harriger said he hadn’t seen my brother for a while and that he would check
around. He later called me back and told me he was not aware that my brother
had died two years previously, on April 2, 2002, less than two months after I
contacted Harriger!
Tom Blaise Shepherd
