Unfortunately, there’s an all-too-familiar scene playing that’s been playing out in Chemung County in New York. In January 2006, Gary E. Harvey had a heart attack and fell down a flight of stairs. The injuries left him permanently and severely disabled.
Gary Harvey was placed in Chemung County Nursing Facility – and a familiar battle began. Sara, Gary’s wife, started complaining about the quality of care – or lack thereof. After pushing their own allegations, the facility was successful in having Sara removed as her husband’s guardian, severely limiting contact and removing any right to make decisions on her husband’s behalf.
Sara Harvey is the best person to tell her story – and she’s done so at the National Association to Stop Guardian Abuse.
Here is an excerpt from her entry on May 18th on their blog:
Jan. 2006, my husband Gary E. Harvey, age 55, suffered a tragic accident leaving him severely brain injured. As his wife and sole advocate, I’m fighting to ensure he gets the best possible care and quality of life. We’ve been abused and taken advantage of by Chemung County, CCNF, APS, DSS, Attorneys, and Supreme Court.
I pray that Gary has a full recovery. A man who served his country should not be treated this way! No matter what, I want him home where he’ll be loved, safe, and properly cared for.
The County is divorcing me from my husband and holding him prisoner.
All they care about is money. I only count when it comes to keeping health insurance on Gary and paying the bills; an obligation – not a WIFE. We are not rich and don’t want to see our home and all we worked our entire lives for, taken by the county.
For more information, please check out the link (bizarrely named) “Dying with Dignity” for a televised report on the situation.
Next up is a hearing in Chemung County on July 27th. Sara hopes to prevent impending orders to implement both “DNR” orders for Gary and removal of his feeding tube. She also wants to regain guardianship.
What, ultimately does she want? Again, she says it best herself:
I want my husband home where he belongs and where he will be safe and taken care of – and where he will be allowed to interact with not only his family, but his friends and his priest. Socialization is vital to his well-being as it is for anyone. I fear if he is not rescued from CCNF soon, he will lose his will to live, his spirit will diminish and I will lose him forever. I see him losing his spirit a little more each day. Time is an enemy here. The longer he remains in CCNF, the more his will suffers.
I also fear if he is forced to remain incarcerated in CCNF, he will die of a neglectful action resulting from ongoing, documented inadequate care. Gary trusts me; he cannot speak for or defend himself. He has no one to advocate for him at CCNF because the court has rendered me helpless to protect him.
More on this situation in the next week, as we get more information. –Stephen Drake