On the Road to a Better Life

Mr. Scott Cuomo once followed a dark path after he and his wife separated earlier this year. Cuomo, 56, Warwick, New York, had turned to alcohol as an escape from the hardship of their breakup, a downward spiral that nearly cost him his life. A father of two, a daughter 34, and a 27-year-old son who both work for Amazon, Mr. Cuomo is a hard-working auto mechanic in Sussex, New Jersey. In addition to his love for his kids, Scott enjoys fishing, hunting, motorcycle riding, dirt bikes, and grew up with many friends.

One day this past spring, Scott was awake, alert, and aware of his surroundings, he asked one of his close friends to take him to Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, New York, knowing something wasn't right. Although it wasn't an easy decision to make, it was a brave decision at the time and one that probably saved his life. Not many people in that state of mind can voluntarily go to the hospital to get clean, which is why Scott's story is inspiring and can help others who have gone down this dark path.

"If you get to know Scott like I have, you will learn about what a big-hearted and warm person he is," said Jill Wechsler, a Registered Nurse for Northern Services and Centers Health Care and the company's Good Samaritan Hospital liaison. "He knew he needed help and was very brave about it."

But things got worse before it got better. While at the hospital, before making it into the substance abuse wing, Scott went into respiratory distress, where he stopped breathing and ultimately "blacked out." Doctors immediately started to intubate Scott, they trached him and was put on life support in a comatose state. Scott doesn't remember any of the 70 days he was at Good Samaritan Hospital, as he was highly sedated while at the hospital before making it into the substance abuse wing to get admitted. He had stopped breathing, and that led him into the intensive care unit.

Doctors learned in early July that his respiratory failure had stemmed from either hypoxia. This condition occurs when the body or a part of the body doesn't receive enough oxygen or hypercapnia, where there is too much carbon dioxide in the blood. One can lead to another, and a person can be hypercapnic and hypoxemic at the same time. Additionally, Scott's nervous system had been in a degenerative state due to the alcohol abuse.

After he awoke and learned what had happened, he was discharged but still bedridden in late June to Northern Manor in Nanuet, where he started receiving physical and occupational therapy. Scott has been thankful to everyone at Good Samaritan Hospital and Northern Manor daily.

"They helped me, and when I'm discharged, I'm going to my sisters in Middletown," says Scott emotionally. "Nurse Wechsler and all the therapists have been so good to me."

By mid-August, Scott had demonstrated how far he's gone in his successful physical and occupational therapy as he finally started walking again. However, he continued missing everyone, including his sister and loving mother. As of mid-August, Scott officially graduated from therapy.

"Scott is close with his mom," said Ms. Wechsler. "Scott’s mom is his biggest cheerleader, and they (his sister and mom) always look out for him. He is blessed in many ways."