SYRACUSE N.Y. (NCC News) — Red Hornstein of Dewitt is now recovering at home after a long eight days at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse.
Hornstein entered the hospital to undergo a heart procedure to fix an electrical issue with his pacemaker.
Hornstein planned to leave the hospital the following day. However, complications with the surgery put him on a ventilator and hospitalized much longer than expected.
Because of COVID-19, his family was unable to visit him.
“Just being alone. It’s hard. It’s hard on me. It’s hard on the family. It’s hard on my kids,” Hornstein said.
“It was really difficult,” said Carol Hornstein, Red Hornstein’s wife. She said that in order to get information about her husband’s condition, she had to work three times as hard.
“Because you’re not there, I feel like its out of sight out of mind, so you need to be your own advocate,” Mrs. Hornstein said.
Mrs. Hornstein said she was frustrated because a woman giving birth was allowed to have a spouse with them.
“So why can’t a patient, just have one person,” Mrs. Hornstein said.
And despite the strict rules limiting guests, Mr. Hornstein was never even tested for the virus while in the hospital.
Though being alone was difficult, Mr. Hornstein said the care he got from nurses was excellent.
“The majority of the nurses were more in a caring, going the extra step to make you feel that you’re not alone,” Mr. Hornstein said.
And to show her appreciation, twice Mrs. Hornstein dropped off donuts to the nurses taking care of her husband.
“All the COVID people are getting the attention, all those nurses, but you know these people are having to work also,” Mrs. Hornstein said.
At this time, Mr. Hornstein is recovering in the comfort of his home with his family.
