Gregg Valentino shares the harrowing story of his hospital experience after a botched throat surgery.
The last time we spoke with Gregg Valentino, he had been diagnosed with throat cancer and was heading in for a second surgery to hopefully remedy the situation. He has since recovered and appears in good health as of this writing. But his experience undergoing his second surgery was a harrowing experience that he will never forget. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Gregg Valentino details the horrors of his surgery and hospital experience.
Receiving a cancer diagnosis is always a scary situation but it becomes even scarier to be diagnosed with cancer in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City. That’s exactly what happened to Gregg Valentino. He suddenly found himself needing emergency throat surgery in the middle of a hot spot crisis overtaking NYC.
Not only that, but this was Gregg’s second surgery. His original surgery was botched and required him to come back to go under the knife. The botched surgery was so bad that Gregg Valentino started vomiting coagulated blood consistently out of his mouth. It got so bad that he needed to have a bucket by his side. Of course, this was an immediate sign that something had to be done.
Unfortunately, this second surgery was essential and couldn’t wait. So he needed to return to for surgery in the middle of the chaos that was overwhelming hospitals in NYC. With still little known about the virus at that time – it seems things went far from smooth according to Gregg Valentino.
Gregg Valentino’s original update after his second surgery (above).
During his stay at the hospital, Gregg describes being paralyzed but conscious for a small period of time before the surgery. He also recalls waking up not knowing what hospital he was in, not receiving much attention, and having to physically break free from his light restraints to pull a ventilating tube out of his mouth. He also describes not being given fluid until asking one of the nurses.
Due to the pandemic, his family was not allowed to be in the hospital with Gregg. But even beyond that – they were also not given any updates on how the surgery went or even where exactly Gregg Valentino was until he woke up and called them himself. Gregg eventually demanded to leave the hospital. While doctors encouraged him to stay a bit longer, he was not in serious enough condition to be held there so he was allowed to leave.
Ultimately, Gregg Valentino walked away with a clean bill of health. But to this day he still has occasional flashes of being paralyzed and awake right before the surgery. It’s a moment that sends fear and chills down his spine. He claims it is something he will never forget.
He also looked beyond his own personal experience and worried for the hundreds if not thousands of other patients that were barred from seeing their families. To be stuck in a chaotic hospital during one of the most shocking medical moments in NYC’s history was a harrowing experience to be sure. Not just for Gregg but for all of those unlucky enough to be hospitalized during the height of the pandemic.
You can watch Gregg Valentino tell the full story in detail by checking out our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
