My name is Mary Ann Salinas Boike tdcj #1007176. As you can see I am incarcerated at the present time. I have a critical medical condition that needs to be taken care of.
This all started October 30,2000 at the Houston Sheriff Dept. I started having bad pains on my right side. We were due to be transferred that same night and before leaving, the nurse said I was going to T.D.C. and they would take care of me there. When I arrived the pain grew worse and the staff sent me to the infirmary. While at the nurses station they took my vital signs. I explained the pain and they said nothing was wrong, that is was probably gas. They gave me 2 Tylenol and sent me back to the cell block ,where I was housed. I had a top bunk and was upstairs. s the night passed the pain continued to intensify. Again the nurse took my vital signs, gave me 2 Tylenol and stereotyped me saying I was faking the pain and nothing was wrong. They said I had a bad case of gas. I asked to see a doctor and was refused.
Finally I did see a doctor on Nov.2, 2002, but the pain grew to excruciating heights. I couldn't eat. I would sit at the table all night, because I could not get up on my bunk. I couldn't climb up. I couldn't drink water. The nurse kept giving me Tylenol each time and kept telling me the same things.
On Nov,2,2000 I saw the doctor (physicians Assistant) Kimberg. She took one look at me and asked what was wrong. I told her everything... which nurses sent me back and which ones said things about me. They took my temperature it was 102.6. I explained where my pain was. I was so swollen,I looked pregnant. I was examined by her, She said they were going to send me to John Sealy Hospital in Galveston ,Texas. I was sent from the Dayton, Texas T.D.C.J. hold over.Upon arrival, everyone it seemed had their opinion about what was wrong with me. They took X-ray after X-ray. Ultrasound, MRI. just about every test they could find and could not pinpoint what the problem was. The doctor came into the room and tried to explain some things to me about having to do exploratory surgery because they couldn't come up with a solution to an unknown problem, so they were going to open me up and go from there.They kept taking X-rays until something showed up while I was in the operating room on Nov.7,2002. I woke up in the intensive care unit. They said I was a very ill woman. I was in the I.C.U. for approximately a week. The doctor came in and told me my intestine had obstructed, pulmonary embolism, plus pneumonia on top of an infection MRSA. They had me in an isolation room. I was released back to Dayton, Texas Nov.22, 2002.
Once there I was put in the segragation tank. I had a colostomy bag by then. I was placed where it was cold and they would forget to feed me at times. I had just been released from the hospital. Dayton said they had no room for me in general population and I stayed in ad segregation for approximately 3 weeks. Finally I was assigned to a dorm, but I was given a direct order to carry all of my bags myself, plus my mattress. I told the officer that I could not carry all the bags myself, plus the mattress. He said, "Carry it or stay in segregation." I was in so much pain that week. I was issued a bottom bunk, plus medically unassigned. I was not given adequate medical care. The symptoms had barely a band-aid to cover them. The problem had nothing.
On Feb, of 2002, my medical unassignment ran out. Here I was with a colostomy bag, exposed all the while hoping the bag wouldn't bust. Being exposed and forced to work as a janitor increased my risks for further injury and infection. I had to clean dirty showers, mop floors and clean toilets. My side began hurting so much and the swelling persisted. My intestines started poking out and I was miserable..more than usual, I just got worse. They were suppose to operate on me because this was reversible, the obstruction. They kept postponing it. By March1,2001, the intestine was sticking out the size of a grapefruit.
T.D.C decided to move me to Gatesville, Texas. I am currently housed in the medical unassigned dorm on the Reception Unit. I saw Dr. West here and he said there was nothing he could do for me, that I had an appointment to go to John Sealy Hospital on May 14, 2001. I went and I was postponed again until June. They doctor said they needed to run some tests and they would see me in 3 weeks. They ended sending me back to Gatesville, Texas.
On Oct. 12, 2001 I went to change my colostomy bag and after I cleaned it I was fixing to put a bag in and blood was dripping everywhere. I could not see where the blood was coming from so I did what I was suppose to do, which is call for an officer. The officer called Dr. West. He measured and looked and I was sent to John Sealy Hospital, where Dr, Chu in emergency gave me a weak examination. He didn't even take off the bag to look and see where I was bleeding from, or see if there was a tear, nothing. He said," I don't know why they sent you, you're ready to go back.
Here I sit with my intestine hanging out of my side, I have to hold it up to walk anywhere. I am mostly in bed because it hurts so bad. The doctors at U.T.M.B. keep postponing and my intestines keep getting worse. I have asked that pictures of this be taken.No one will, they refuse. It's now 2002 and still no operation, They send me to general surgery and each time I see a different doctor.
On April 12, 2002, I finally had some tests done, that were suppose to have been done before Christmas,2001. Since the tests ,they now show I have patches of ulcers from the biopsy from June, 2001, The biopsy from June 2001 was negative, no ulcers. I went to general surgery on April 28,2001. I was flabbergasted that ulcers were now showing up. I asked if they could call the G.I. doctors to see if they could see me or give their opinion on the surgery. They said things don't work that way, they've done this before. I asked id they were going to make me wait till another 6 months or a year, The doctor said,"No, Dr Stewert will be here in a month or so." Once again my surgery was cancelled. When I got back to my unit I asked what was in my chart. I read it it said Referred to G.I. and then to general surgery in 4 to 6 months. Every time I go I get the run - a - round on this. Now the ulcers are suddenly there ..they weren't before.
The unit where I am housed does not supply me with the correct medical supplies. I have repeatedly and persistently tried to get the surgery and adequate care I need. I have contacted the following people, through the only channels available to me to report the negligence. I am forced to endure more now for years, How much longer do I have to wait and suffer and be passed around, and rescheduled?
Please I need help, not just to be sent to John Sealy and be cancelled. I need surgery badly.
Thank you for caring and for your time. I pray that someone can help me.
I had the misfortune of actually seeing the exposed intestine she refers to. What you read of her letter in no way describes what I actually saw.
We were in the shower area and it was the first time I saw the colostomy bag..startled because it appeared the bag was full of blood. I questioned her. She turned around and showed me the entire bag was filled nearly to overflowing with approximately 9-10 inches of ulcerated intestine. There was no room for the waste the bag is intended to hold, therefore the intestine itself had to lay in the waste. Iam making a conservative guess to (say 5-7 pounds of intestine). protected only by this thin plastic bag, and I have witnessed on more than 1 occasion another inmate unintentionally hitting this spot and causing mary extreme pain. I ask you add this bit of information to your website with her story. I am anxious to hear any response on her case, as is she. However until we received your response, she has never been prescribed antibiotics. She was suddenly put on them last week.
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