Anthony Pennazoli, 50, is a man with a positive outlook and who says “It’s up to you to keep the faith.”
He came to NIC in order to take micro-biology which was needed to join the nursing program. He was keeping up his good grades and had everything under control. At least until September 12.
On this particular day Pennazoli went to class as usual. In microbiology they were talking about diverticulitis, which is a bubble on the side of the intestine that fills up like an appendix and can cause serious issues if it bursts. Pennazoli was not feeling well that day and decided to take a nap when he got home. His friend Debbie Bennett whom he describes as “an angel,” refused to let him, and they went to the hospital, with no time to spare.
By the time the he got to the hospital, the doctors told him the very malady he had been studying in class was the issue. The diverticulitis had burst and peritonitis, the condition caused from contents of his intestines leaking into his abdomen, had become a complication. He was in medical trouble, as peritonitis causes serious infection.
He spent the next 10 days in the hospital, four of which were in the ICU, and the rest in recovery. The incident put him out of commission for two weeks after his release from the hospital. His surgery required him to have a a stoma put into place. To make the situation more dire, his body was full of infection so he had to have a wound-vac put into place to draw the infection out. The vacuum went up close to the spine and pinched a nerve causing excruciating pain that the doctor could not locate. After the ninth day of pain they took out the small tube of the vacuum.
“When it got pulled out it was like an orgasm! The pain was gone. I told the nurse I have to see the doctor. That was what was causing the pain!” Pennazoli said.
He came back to school hoping to push him to the limits and catch back up in most of his classes. However, he had to drop five out of six classes, most of his professors did not have the time to help him out. He had fallen too far behind and they have too many classes. One teacher, Pat Lippert was willing to take on the challenge and now Anthony is getting closer to being caught up. “Mr. Lippert is awesome; I wish that other teachers could have taken the time.”
According to Pennazoli with the help of the dean and Mr. Lippert he has funding to go to school.
Living, on the other hand, does not have the same financial assistance. Pennazoli had bought a house with the assistance of a friend and is now finding it difficult to get by. Financial aid is running out and by doctor’s orders, he cannot work.
But on Nov. 8., complications arose again. He was readmitted to the hospital His stoma will be reconnected on Nov. 21 and he will be down again for another few weeks.
In spite of the obstacles Pennazoli has faced, he is hopeful for the future. He says “Fifty year-old people should go back to school. We will be a commodity, within the next few years 71 million people will be retiring and we will take their place… . They want people my age that have had their experiences and know where we want to be.”
