By ISABEL MENDOZA
Staff Writer
Tulare grandmother, Maria Ferrumpau, spent most of 2021 in a hospital bed fighting off Covid 19, and was finally released after many months. Doctors, nurses, and loved ones describe her as a fighter
Her granddaughter, Stephanie Ferrumpau said her grandmother had many health issues, including a pacemaker, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Doctors said with her age, 80 years old, and with her pre-existing health conditions, going home was unlikely.
During her 10 months away from home, she missed her family dearly. “Not having her for the holiday, their anniversary and his birthday, everything like that and my daughter’s second birthday. It’s hard not having her there when she’s been there my whole life.” Stephanie said.
Due to Covid-19 visitation restrictions earlier this year, Ferrumpau’s family had to visit her through a window. Once they lifted these restrictions, they all got vaccinated so they could see her and protect themselves.
Her granddaughter said, “Once they lifted the restrictions, once my grandpa was able to see her, touch her, talk to her, it’s what cured her, basically, I would think.” Dr. Kris Reddell is the Director of Nursing at the DP/SNF unit. “When the family was beginning to be there for many hours during the course of every day, I mean literally every day,” Dr. Reddell said. “You could see it in her eyes, she’d perk up and she’d begin to heal so much faster.”
Sierra View Medical Center was the hospital she was currently staying at and they received nearly 1,900 Covid patients since March of last year. More than 200 did not make it back home. Stephanie said “Don’t take your family for granted.”