Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops.

(SHANNON AINSLIE / iNFOnews.ca)

A third patient is waiting through repeated cancellations for a leg amputation at Royal Inland Hospital.

Last week, Jackie Paul and Glenda Powers shared their separate stories of delayed amputations at the hospital that cost patients their chance at better prosthetics.

They said the delays were brought on by a lack of staffing, and left Paul, as well as Glenda’s husband Barry, with more extensive amputations than what was necessary.

“The leg wasn’t improving so it was decided Barry had to lose his leg below the knee,” Powers said. “Every day for almost two weeks we were told surgery would happen and then it was cancelled. I could see black spots on his feet and then watched helplessly as the infection made its way higher and higher up his leg.”

Barry Powers is recovering from an above-the-knee amputation at Royal Inland Hospital

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Glenda Powers

READ MORE: Second person at Kamloops's Royal Inland Hospital had leg amputated while waiting for surgery

Barry Powers is still recovering in hospital, and wife Glenda said she recently spoke to a third patient who is also waiting for an above-the-knee amputation.

“The patient has had to endure cancellation after cancellation just as Barry and Jackie did,” she said. “The patient said it is mental torture. When I asked them to speak up about it they were reluctant to because they were afraid to say anything until after getting the surgery.”

Powers said she felt horrible for the patient. It is unclear whether the patient has had surgery yet.

Interior Health has issued statements but has so far not explained the situation.

“We can confirm that urgent surgeries - surgeries that involve life, limb and threatened organ (LLTO) have gone ahead at Royal Inland Hospital,” Interior Health said in an email to iNFOnews on Dec. 4. “Staffing pressures and previous outbreaks at RIH have not impacted our ability to conduct these LLTO surgeries. Our surgical team closely monitors patients and adjusts the care plan as patient conditions change.”

“I would like to know what Interior Health classifies as a limb, referring to their statement,” Powers said.

Interior Health said it could not comment on individual circumstances due to privacy concerns. Patients and families are encouraged to contact the Patient Care Quality Office which will investigate and respond to them directly.

Jackie Paul went to the hospital mid-October with an aortic aneurysm and did not return home until Dec. 1.

Jackie Paul is recovering after having an above-the-knee leg amputation.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Jackie Paul

She said her experience was “horrific,” as she watched her leg turn black and get cut off piece by piece.

“They kept postponing it because when people came in with COVID or from a car accident, I got bumped,” Paul said. “It was sheer fear wondering if and when I was going to get surgery. I had to just sit there and watch my leg rot. The hospital is full and there are not enough nurses and doctors to perform these surgeries.”

READ MORE: Sicamous woman survives 'nightmare' medical ordeal that resulted in leg amputation

In an update on Jackie Paul’s fundraiser for a prosthetic, friend Megan Kitigawa said Paul is getting stronger each day, her wounds are healing and her blood circulation is great.

“She’s practicing with her crutches, doing her physio exercises, and eagerly awaiting the next steps to have stitches removed and fittings for the first prosthetic,” Kitigawa said. “It’s still a long road ahead but Jackie is in good spirits and the support from everyone really goes a long way.”

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