The Remedy: Bringing Lean Thinking Out of the Factory to Transform the Entire Organization

Chapter 10. Nick Papas Falls into the Abyss

Sarah woke me in the middle of the night. "It's your dad. Harry says come to the hospital at once."

I dressed in a dazed panic. It was early Saturday morning, just past 3:00 am. Sarah would stay in the apartment with the children. I got into my car, sped through the Lincoln Tunnel, across Manhattan and into Queens. It was lightly snowing and the streets were slippery. I could hear my dad's voice. "Go slow to go fast, my boy . . ."

Harry summarized the situation as I drove. Dad had fallen into a coma. His vital signs were at dangerously low levels. A night-shift nurse found him and initiated emergency response. It was a question of time. If Dad could hang on for the next 24 hours, he would live. With luck, he would avoid brain damage.

I turned left on 21st and headed to Mount Sinai hospital. I parked and sprinted into Emergency. They directed me to the intensive care unit. I found the room.

Dad was unconscious and deathly pale. Tubes were coming out of his arms and his nose. Harry sat next to the bed with his arm around Mama. She was swaying back and forth, saying something in Greek. Her eyes were red.

I leaned in and caressed my father's face. "We're all here, Dad. You're going to be okay."

I kissed my mother and murmured encouragements. Harry and I left the room so we could talk. "What have they done to him?" I asked.

Harry collected himself. "Dad's in a diabetic coma. There was an MAE—a medication administration error—they gave him insulin ...