Mahopac man begs hospital to see his mother in ICU before she passes away

Michael Angelo's 92-year-old mother has been in the ICU at Phelps Memorial Hospital for 11 days now. A urinary tract infection has caused her organs to shut down.

News 12 Staff

Mar 31, 2021, 9:32 PM

Updated 1,365 days ago

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A Mahopac man is begging to see his mother in the hospital before she dies.
Michael Angelo's 92-year-old mother has been in the ICU at Phelps Memorial Hospital for 11 days now. A urinary tract infection has caused her organs to shut down.
"She's sedated to the point where she's unconscious…They want to start the end-of-life care," he says.
In the 11 days, Angelo says he and his father have seen her just once - on Saturday, when the visitation escalated.
"I stood there for a few minutes longer praying with my mom, thinking that would be the last time I was ever going to see her. They bought three security officers up to escort me out," he says.
Angelo says he even had to get Sleepy Hollow police involved.
In the days since Saturday, Angelo says Phelps has denied him and his father entry.
In a statement, Phelps said its longstanding policy allows ICU visitation in special circumstances.
Angelo believes visitation restrictions due to coronavirus should be eased in end-of-life circumstances like theirs.
The family doesn't know when they'll all be able to see her again, and they hope they won't have to resort to a virtual goodbye.
"Imagine a tube down your mother's throat, not being able to talk, and a 93-year-old husband looking at my mother through a Zoom lens or through a phone or computer. He doesn't understand," he says.