Stories Direct from The Inmates
Life in Perryville
I found out I had cancer from my tablet!
(This is the journey of Melissa, another example of a healthy woman entering Perryville and leaving with a life-threatening illness. For 8 years this blog has tried to show the public the truly cruel way the DOC treats its prisoners. We will continue to do this until Jensen v Thornell results in Receivership (Federalization) against the AZDOC.–Ed.)
In August of 2021 on Santa Cruz unit, Melissa went to medical for severe pain and pressure in the ears. From 8-9-21 to 3-22-22 she submitted 37+ HNR’s for this debilitating pain. Provider T., an LPN, was her primary care provider during this time, and she begged him to be referred to an ENT or MD. This kind of pain could be indicative of a host of ailments from the neck up.
Provider T. told her, “I know you’re struggling with your ears, but I’m not sending you to an ENT because it’s too expensive.” He denied her even after the DOC’s own audiologist recommended an ENT consult. Providers were not the only cruel ones.
Ms. W., a teacher in a class Melissa was forced to go to, was especially diabolical. Ms. W. completely dismissed her pain and suffering by threatening her with disciplinary tickets if Melissa missed a minute of class or even went to Medical. During this time Melissa’s pain was so debilitating she was often dizzy and passing out. One episode landed her in IPC in a coma-like condition. To this Ms. W. said, “I don’t care how much pain you’re in, you need to toughen up, I won’t let you leave my class unless you’re bleeding to death or having a heart attack.”
On 12-3-21 Melissa did in fact collapse outside the classroom. For 5 months this teacher denied medical care to an inmate with serious medical needs.
Melissa was then transferred to San Carlos, and a new Provider, Ms. J. a Nurse Practitioner. Provider J. reviewed Melissa’s records and told her, “I don’t believe your pain is that bad, you are exaggerating how bad it is, go ahead and sue me if you don’t like my answer.” Melissa went to the ultimate authority in her medical grievance, the Facility Health Administrator, who denied her request to see an ENT, practically ending her chances of ever receiving treatment while incarcerated.
For two years Melissa endured pain and suffering until July of 2024 when a nurse referred her to Provider SM. For the first time in four years, this Provider asked all the right questions none had ever asked. When was your MRI? Ultrasound? How many blood tests? X-Rays? For every question, the answer was no….Melissa had never even had a blood draw for her condition and symptoms. Provider SM was so incredulous, she had to stop the exam to take a few deep breaths. SM ordered every test and waited for the results.
Melissa had her ultrasound done at Complex, but the tech was very nervous. She did tell Melissa that “she had a lot going on”, so she requested to see the image. The tech admitted she saw 6 masses, 2 of which were more than 5 cm. The four others were less than 2 cm each. (This ultrasound was ” read” by the Insurer’s doctor, and erroneously written as “Unremarkable, 2 cysts.” and fed into the DOC medical computer!).
After this test, Melissa was shocked when each so-called Provider told her “There’s nothing wrong with you, your ultrasound was unremarkable” when she had seen the image with her own eyes. The charlatans couldn’t falsify the MRI though….. diagnosis: Multifocal bilateral thyroid nodules. Blood test confirmed Hyperthyroidism. Bone scan confirmed High fracture risk. And the SPECIAL blood test done for a specific marker on 9-24-24 confirmed, Hypercalcemia. What does that mean?
Hypercalcemia means you have cancer. It’s the only way you get that marker in a blood test. All the other tests backed that up….Melissa has thyroid and paratyphoid cancer. So what could have been easily fixed four years ago, turned life-threatening because of deliberate indifference, cruelty, and plain old-fashioned greed.
So how is Melissa doing as of this writing? (12-30-24) She is so sick she has difficulty swallowing, she’s dizzy, loses her balance, becomes so ‘out of it’ she is unable to respond to someone talking to her, has a foggy memory, and risks going into a coma-like state. She was slipping into a coma in 2022, when a nurse realized what was happening and literally saved her life.
It’s happening again in 2024, and believe it or not, she has never seen an ENT, they are giving her all the wrong supplements that exacerbate her condition, she has not seen a “Provider” since November, she’s been given no pain relief, no treatment plan, and no diagnosis. She tapped into her tablet, and discovered by accident that she had cancer. Is that not the epitome of cruelty?
DOC=Department Of Cruelty.
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Did Grave Shift Officer ROGERS Walk by Naked Inmate in Medical Distress?
(A group of women on Charley bay tell this alleged incident.) Robin is the name of a stage 4 cancer patient who needs oxygen to survive. Robin had been complaining about a fever the night before, and this could be why in the middle of the night she had thrown off all her clothes. Unfortunately, witnesses allege her oxygen tube was also off, which might explain the groaning they heard from her, and her apparent distress. Robin’s neighbors say, Officer Rogers repeatedly walked passed Robin’s cube during patrols and did not check on Robin even though she was naked and moaning.
One cube mate finally called out, “Hey Rogers, this woman needs medical attention.” they allege the officer said, “I’m going to finish my walk”. When they insisted, Rogers said, ” She’ll just refuse, and I don’t think there’s anyone in medical anyway.”
According to the ladies in C bay, a nurse arrived just before dawn and took Robin to medical. For unexplained reasons, she was brought back to her cube. Then, reportedly, when the morning shift of medical professionals arrived about 7:30am, Robin was wheeled back to medical and then the ambulance showed up at 8:20am to take her to the hospital.
Maricopa County Jail Takes Blind Woman’s Cane! Then Perryville Gives Her a Walker???
Joanna is 100% blind. When she was arrested on an ancient parole violation, she had her collapsible white cane with the red tip, universally recognized as a blind person’s “eyes”. The jail guards took her cane away claiming she could use it as a weapon. How? She can’t see to hit anyone! All those idiots did was TAKE AWAY HER EYES!
We did some research to find out Maricopa allows seeing people keep their canes, but in their infinite wisdom….takes away the blind ones’ cane!? Who could be more stupid than Maricopa jail? Why Perryville prison of course! Instead of getting her blind stick back from the jail, or ordering a new one, OR giving her a wheelchair in the interim, they give her a WALKER! Talk about an IQ of room temperature. The woman is healthy, she doesn’t need a walker…..she needs a cane to see where she’s going. But, no, San Carlos Medical reportedly was reluctant to give her something useful like a wheelchair.
Fortunately for Joanna, her mother is also on San Carlos and she is some raging Mama Bear! When Mom found out her “cub” was being mistreated, Carlos Medical was in a world of hurt:-) Joanna’s mom “acquired” a wheelchair, went to battle with medical when they tried to put her baby in the SNU (special needs unit, again she’s not sick, she’s blind) and roared her displeasure about Joanna not having a cube, and meals delivered until she could get her cane.
Allegedly, the medical department thought Joanna was “faking” being totally blind because when she was in Perryville in 2009, she had sight in one eye. Duh. Nothing can happen in 15 years?? Someone with a brain finally noticed Joanna’s eyes were “nonreactive to light”, that means blind, people.
This has a happy ending…..reportedly, Joanna has a wheelchair, cane is on order, cube is ready, and she will be enrolled in the braille program. Never underestimate a Mother’s love.
SGT. ROBERTS Accused of Hassling Women in the Middle of the Night
(These are only 2 of several alleged incidents received--Ed) Corianne: "I have PTSD. Last night I had a nightmare so I was sitting up in bed trying to get my breath and settle down. I wanted to go to the bathroom, but my legs were numb, so I leaned against the side of...
Staff Teacher Calls Inmate’s Children Assholes
(We received copies of 3 grievances alleging this incident at San Carlos Mandatory class) "Our teacher, Ms. McK, had a major meltdown yesterday in class and hasn't returned since. We've been without inmate tutors, who really teach the classes, for several weeks....
Civil Rights Complaint against DW Jones et al
On September 24, 2024, prisoner Sonia Rodriguez, filed a civil rights complaint in The United States District Court against Deputy Warden Jones and 17 others of his staff. The suit alleges 18 staff members of San Carlos Unit, "Prevented legal mail to be delivered to...
Sexual Harassment at Carlos Medical?
(We received this email recently alleging a medical officer telling lewd jokes to the women waiting in line for medication.--Ed.) "I've been at Carlos for two years and never had to take 'watch swallow' or DOT medication before. With over 1300 people on this unit and...
I Walked the Air Force Veteran to the Gate
(Email from Carlos woman about the trials of the 66-year-old we previously wrote about.) "I've known Sue for 14 years, we've been in the trenches together all over Perryville, medium and minimum custody. I remember a vibrant redhead, very articulate, but shocked by...
GOOD NEWS, Perryville resident gets multi million dollar settlement!
(We love these stories. Very seldom does the lowly inmate get what she deserves, so this was pure vindication) Robin found out yesterday from the Court, that she had been awarded 6 million dollars from her medical lawsuit in compensatory and monetary damages. This...
Lt. ADAMU Makes Elderly Woman in Walker Carry Trays
(Margaret, a 73 year old using a walker, tells her story.) Lt. ADAMU announced to Charley Bay (where 90% of the lay-ins are), that from now on the lay-in people will take their own trays back to the kitchen. That defeats the purpose don't you think? Lay-ins are the...
Asking for Mental Health=Punishment
(Ed. This is the same woman, telling the different mental health care she received in two states, Arizona and California.) "My name is Evelyn. I'd recently been transferred from CIW in California to Perryville when I found out my father had passed away. I went to...
Pregnant Women Starved and Neglected in Perryville!
(Editorial note: To the Pro-Life Republicans in this (still) red state. If you really value the unborn and support young mothers, then why do you let incarcerated women be hungry, and neglect their medical needs? These are three women telling the same story.) "I'm...
Carlos Medical Gives NO Pain Meds to Cancer Patient!
(She wrote us this letter and begged to have her real name in the story. Ed.) "My name is Robin Leigh Kulp. I am housed at Perryville prison, San Carlos unit. On 3-25-24 I was having trouble breathing, and having serious chest pain. My legs were throbbing, aching, and...
Why Women DON’T Ask For Mental Health Care
(A rebuttal to Director Thornell's out-of-touch letter to the inmate population. A first-hand recent account.) "My dad had just died and I felt like joining him. I went to medical and informed the guard that I felt like hurting myself. At first, he tried to talk me...
Terminal Cancer Patient, Formerly in Hospice, “in Agony” at Perryville’s San Carlos
(Ed. note: We have seen the patient's original X-ray report and copy of the letter she sent to the Prison Law Office, and of course, we did a one-on-one interview. This article starts with an overview of her situation taken from the letter to Prison Law.) "My name is...
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