NNFF Dedication - John Potemra

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John Bernard Potemra

November 7, 1916 - May 20, 1997

This is dedicated to my father, John Potemra, who suffered a horrible death from this disease. On the evening of May 15, 1997, I called my father. His voice was trembling and he complained of his right leg hurting. I immediately went to visit with him and checked his leg. There were no bruises, no indication of what was to be. I asked him if he had fallen, and he said no. I stayed with him awhile, rubbed ointment on his leg, tried to get him comfortable. It was getting late, so I left to go home. At 2:00 in the AM, he called me in excruciating pain and I immediately called an ambulance and went to his house. When I got there, he was lying on the bedroom floor, rubbing his leg and said the pain was terrible. When the paramedics arrived, they noted that his blood pressure was dropping, and they immediately took him to the hospital.

I was in the emergency room with him. While we were waiting for a doctor to come, I lifted the sheet that was covering him and discovered "bruises" and discoloration that was not there earlier in the evening. I again asked him if he had fallen and he said no. I immediately called a nurse when I discovered these marks. In the minutes that followed, the bruised area seemed to grow and the color was a deep, red purple. Then the area seemed to fill with pus or water, like large boils. This was all in a matter of 20 minutes. When the doctor arrived, he immediately diagnosed my father with NF. They life-flighted him to a Pittsburgh area hospital.

He underwent surgery immediately. They had to amputate his entire leg and pelvic area. To prevent the disease from traveling any further in his body, they gave him HBO oxygen treatments and he was in the trauma unit for the next four days. Although, I tried to explain to him what was happening, I don't think he truly realized that his leg and pelvic area were gone. He succumbed to NF on the morning of May 20. My brother and I were both with him as we watched him take his last breath.

I had never heard of this disease before this. It was truly like experiencing a horror movie. It was five days on torture for him and a nightmare for my brother and me. I replay this over and over in my mind and my only consolation is that he is no longer suffering.

I miss you, Dad! Love, your daughter, Nancy

Nancy J. Hamaker
njhtravel@attbi.com
Pennsylvania
June 2003

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