Half ton man's weight loss program may cost $3 million
August 12, 2004
Paul Deuel tipped the scales at almost half a ton, 486 kilos (1,072 lbs), doctors warned him that his weight was killing him. Paul had been housebound for over 7 years, he had nearly died of heart failure. When they tried to weigh him they had to take him to a lifestock scale because there was no human one available that had the capacity.
At the beginning of this year Paul asked for medical help. His health was going downhill. Unfortunately, the state of Nebraska did not seem to have a single hospital that wanted to take him on. All the hospitals doubted that his health insurance (state provision) would pay for his treatment.
Pauls wife said "Doors just kept slamming shut on us. I got really worried. He was hanging on by his fingernails."
Then the League of Human Dignity came to an arrangement for a medical center in South Dakota to treat him. He was admitted into the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Paul had to be taken there as he is bed-ridden.
This was in June of this year. He was weighed in at 486 kilos (1,072 lbs). To give you an idea what that might be, imagine five 200 lbs (93 kilo) men standing side-by-side.
Paul’s doctor, Fred Harris, said that Paul needed treatment urgently, he did not think he had much time.
Paul was suffering from heart failure, diabetes, pulmonary hypertension and severe arthritis.
Getting him out of his house and transporting him to the hospital was quite an ordeal. He could not fit into a standard ambulance. They had to find a special one that had a gurney and a ramp.
In the hospital Paul lies on two attached beds.
The good news is that so far (8 weeks), Paul has lost 145 kilos (321 lbs). He is expected to shed 205 kilos (450 lbs) more over the next year-and-a-half. Eight doctors and several nurses will be carefully monitoring him.
As soon as he is strong enough (well enough), doctors hope to carry out stomach-stapling or gastric bypass surgery. But first, doctors want to bring his weight down so that the pressure on his heart is alleviated.
Paul is looking forward to being able to go for a walk again.
Source:www.medicalnewstoday.com
|
