The family of a woman with a chronic health condition is demanding answers about why she died after waiting 14 hours for medical treatment at Abbotsford Regional Hospital.

Hana Raufi said her family does not want the death of her mom, Luanora Irtenkauf, 55, to be B次元官网网址渁rbitrary.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淪he was in pain. She needed help. But the one place we go that we rely on to help us and make us better not only failed her, but ultimately killed her,B次元官网网址� Raufi said.

Irtenkauf had a medical condition called medullary sponge kidneys, which caused her kidneys to chronically produce stones.

Raufi said her mom had had more than 20 surgeries to deal with the blocked stones in her urinary tract.

Her family doctor had Irtenkauf on a standing order for a urine sample whenever she felt symptoms B次元官网网址� such as vomiting, lethargy, blood in the urine or abdominal pain B次元官网网址� and, if there was an infection, to be immediately placed on antibiotics.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e done this song and dance so many times already, itB次元官网网址檚 becoming routine,B次元官网网址� Raufi said.

Irtenkauf began feeling ill last Wednesday (Dec. 13), and a urine sample was dropped off to her family doctor, who confirmed on Friday that there was an infection and prescribed an antibiotic.

But due to the vomiting, Irtenkauf was unable to keep the medication in her system, and the family decided she needed to go to the ER later that day.

Raufi said her mom was in B次元官网网址渟o much pain, crying and howling for help.B次元官网网址�

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She said she informed the check-in nurse about her momB次元官网网址檚 medical history and that, if the issue wasnB次元官网网址檛 addressed immediately, her mom could become septic (the infection spreading into the blood).

Raufi said this previously happened to her mom in April and she was hospitalized for 10 days.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 like to think that any competent health care provider would see the history, see the symptoms, put two and two together and understand the importance of acting quickly to ensure they donB次元官网网址檛 risk her life,B次元官网网址� Raufi said.

She said over the next 10 hours, she repeatedly begged hospital staff to admit her mom and to give her something to alleviate the pain, but her concerns were brushed off and they were left in the waiting room.

Raufi said among the reasons provided by workers were that they were understaffed and that her momB次元官网网址檚 vital signs were fine.

B次元官网网址淲hen she was finally admitted, the doctor didnB次元官网网址檛 come to see her for another two hours. All the while the infection was spreading. ThatB次元官网网址檚 12 hours in pain, puking, pale, no medical attention, no antibiotics,B次元官网网址� Raufi said.

B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� The whole time, unbeknownst to me, my mother was slowly dying in front of me.B次元官网网址�

The doctor ordered a CT scan, blood work and a urine sample, which confirmed there was an infection.

It was another two hours before she received painkillers and IV antibiotics B次元官网网址� a total of 14 hours after they had arrived at the hospital.

Raufi said the family was told the CT scan had revealed that an obstruction B次元官网网址� possibly in her bowel B次元官网网址� was causing her momB次元官网网址檚 abdominal pain.

Meanwhile, Irtenkauf was transferred to Chilliwack General Hospital for emergency surgery to remove the kidney stones causing the infection.

The family was told the surgery went well and that Irtenkauf was going to be OK.

But later that night, Irtenkauf was in the intensive care unit in a medically induced coma and unable to breathe on her own.

Raufi and her sister arrived early the next morning.

B次元官网网址淭hey had no idea why she was rapidly fading away, why her blood pressure was falling, why her heart was not functioning, her kidneys failing,B次元官网网址� Raufi said.

Irtenkauf died at 7 p.m. on Sunday.

The family has filed an official complaint with the hospital, is seeking legal advice and has arranged an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

The hospitalB次元官网网址檚 medical director, Dr. David Liu, said he cannot comment on the specifics of the case but offered his B次元官网网址渄eepest condolencesB次元官网网址� to IrtenkaufB次元官网网址檚 family.

He said the hospital is reviewing the situation and will be speaking with them.

Liu said when a patient arrives at the ER they are assessed B次元官网网址� including their past medical history B次元官网网址� and their vitals are taken.

Liu said hospital staff try to gather B次元官网网址渢he most complete picture of a patientB次元官网网址檚 history as possibleB次元官网网址� and obtain blood work and perform other diagnostic tests.

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He said that Abbotsford is not unique to long ER waits, often due to a shortage of doctors and other hospital staff.

B次元官网网址淲e are currently experiencing shortages in all aspects of human resources, and the other issue is weB次元官网网址檙e experiencing an increase in volume of patients, also an aging population and more complex patients,B次元官网网址� he said.

Health Minister Adrian Dix told Black Press Media that the province is doing B次元官网网址渁 dozen thingsB次元官网网址� to address long ER waits. He pointed to urgent and primary care centres and more long-term care facilities and supports.

B次元官网网址淚n many cases, we need resources in the emergency rooms, as well. But what frequently happens B次元官网网址� and the challenge in the emergency room B次元官网网址� isnB次元官网网址檛 just a wait time to get care, to get triage. We have outstanding emergency rooms who do an unbelievable job at that. ItB次元官网网址檚 also the fact that there may not be room on the wards for people to leave the emergency room, and this is frequently what the issue is for health-care workers,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淎ll of what the hospital does as a whole affects what happens in the emergency room. The issues in the emergency room are often a symptom of other things that are going on in the health-care system.B次元官网网址�

Raufi said her family wants justice for her mom.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 want her death to be arbitrary. She isnB次元官网网址檛 just vitals on a screen, a patient on a waiting list. She is a human being with feelings, hopes and dreams, people to love that love her too,B次元官网网址� Raufi said.

B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� Now she will not be part of my wedding party. She will not help raise my kids. She will not be my travel buddy or a phone call away when I need guidance. She is gone.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址� with a file from Lauren Collins, Black Press Media