Bryan family stuck in a medical nightmare
BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – On June 16, Maria Vasquez received a call from her brother voicing he was experiencing severe stomach pain and needed to see a doctor.
33-year-old Joel Vasquez was rushed to the hospital where doctors said his platelet and blood counts were low and he needed a blood transfusion.
“As soon as the blood transfusion, not even 24 hours later, he developed these blood spots on his shoulder which quickly progressed all over his body,” Maria said.
After the bad reaction to the transfusion, Joel was transferred to the ICU and then to Houston shortly after. Doctors diagnosed him with Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis, a blood condition that causes blood cells to clump when introduced to colder temperatures.
In less severe cases, the restricted blood flow can cause rashes and fatigue but for Joel, the condition left him with blood spots, necrosis and ulcers necrosis covering his entire body.
“He’s screaming from all of the pain he’s having,” Maria said. “He’s not able to move or walk.”
R-N Tasha Haley says the transfusion, which uses refrigerated blood, could have aggravated his condition, causing his body to react the way it did.
“We store them refrigerated so they are definitely going to be colder than the body temperature when they are infused,” Haley said. “Because that can trigger that type of vasculitis, that patient can have a negative response to the blood product.”
Haley says this specific blood condition often goes undiagnosed until an event like Joels’ occurs.
“Unless a patient knows that ahead of time, and can tell the doctor or the nurse, you would know you need to warm the blood before you give it,” Haley said. “That’s just not something you would know ahead of time.”
After weeks of battling painful sores and blisters, Joel remains in the hospital.
“Just looking at him, all you can do is cry, not knowing if he’s gonna live or die,” Maria said.
While waiting and hoping for his return home, Maria created a GoFundMe page to help cover Joel’s medical and traveling expenses.
“We just don’t have the resources to help him right now but we are trying our best,” Maria said. “I just ask for help and thank you to everybody who has helped us so far.”
Click here for the GoFundMe link.
