Open Letter to Scotland Memorial Hospital, Florence Family Medicine, and the Medical Community

Date: December 29, 2024

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing this open letter in memory of my daughter, Alyssa Woodham, who tragically passed away on April 16, 2024, just five days after undergoing a spinal tap at Scotland Memorial Hospital in Laurinburg, North Carolina, located in Scotland County. For nine years, Alyssa suffered from a series of misdiagnoses and neglect related to both her neurological and physical health. Despite her ongoing deterioration, no doctor took the necessary steps to address the worsening of her condition or provide her with the proper care she desperately needed.

I watched my daughter mentally and physically deteriorate right in front of my eyes. As a mother, it was excruciating to see my child suffer, and yet, despite my repeated pleas for help, I was ignored. For nine long years, doctors, medical professionals, and others turned a blind eye to her suffering. I was forced to stand by helplessly as her condition worsened—her ability to walk, think, and live was being taken away, piece by piece, and no one would take responsibility for helping her.

During this time, I also had to face challenges with the Department of Social Services (DSS) in Scotland County. Alyssa had one child, whom she raised for four years, and then DSS intervened and removed her child, despite the fact that I, as her mother, was actively involved in her care. Instead of offering assistance, DSS placed all the responsibilities on me, demanding that I take her to appointments and manage her visitation, even though the system itself failed to properly set up the necessary support. Their actions led to Alyssa losing her income, and ultimately, her ability to see her daughter for four years before her death.

I also sought help from DSS to try to figure out what was wrong with Alyssa, but they refused to assist me. Instead, they discriminated against her, assuming that her symptoms were related to a mental illness, when in reality, there was a much deeper, undiagnosed medical condition causing her symptoms. I filed a Civil Rights case against DSS, providing them with all the relevant information and evidence of their failures. Unfortunately, the Civil Rights Commission still came back saying they couldn’t find anything wrong, despite the clear failures in care and the mistreatment that my daughter endured.

The medical and social services systems that were supposed to help my daughter and me failed us repeatedly. Alyssa’s suffering was ignored by professionals who were supposed to care for her, and the systems that should have supported us instead made things worse. Her medical condition was misdiagnosed for years, her rights were violated, and I was left to navigate a complex and broken system without help.

When Alyssa underwent her spinal tap, there were several alarming issues that should have led to immediate action but didn’t. She had altered mental status, lethargy, nausea, inability to hold her bladder, and severe cognitive impairment. Despite her grave symptoms, no CT scan was conducted beforehand, and during the spinal tap, her spinal fluid was coming out slowly, a sign of a leak. Additionally, the spinal fluid had over 2,000 red blood cells, a significant abnormality that should have warranted halting the procedure immediately. However, the staff at Scotland Memorial Hospital proceeded without intervening or keeping Alyssa in the hospital for proper observation, which ultimately led to her passing just days later.

After I obtained Alyssa’s medical records from the hospital, I noticed a concerning discrepancy. The copy of the spinal tap results I received listed the diagnosis as “pneumocephalus,” which is a condition where air gets trapped in the brain, and if left untreated, it can cause brain deterioration and other severe health issues. The diagnosis was signed off by the doctor as the final result. However, the doctor’s office in Florence, South Carolina, which had ordered the spinal tap, claimed they were unaware of this diagnosis and stated that Scotland Memorial Hospital must have “looked it up on the internet” and placed it in the system. I was told that they “just stuck it on there,” which raises further concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability in my daughter’s care.

It’s been eight months since Alyssa’s death, and I still have not received a clear explanation about the discrepancies in the diagnosis and the lack of proper medical care she received. I want to understand why Alyssa was treated the way she was, and why she was never properly diagnosed with conditions that could have easily been addressed. I am asking for a thorough investigation into this matter and a commitment to making sure no other family has to suffer through the same nightmare.

Call to Action:

I am asking for your support in seeking justice for my daughter. I demand that Scotland Memorial Hospital, Florence Family Medicine, the involved medical professionals, and the wider medical community take full accountability for the errors that led to Alyssa’s death. These errors must be fully investigated, and policies need to be put in place to prevent similar situations from happening to others.

I urge you to sign my petition, share it widely, and help raise awareness of this case. Your support can make a difference in holding those responsible accountable and ensuring that these kinds of mistakes are never repeated. Together, we can fight for justice and honor Alyssa’s memory.

Additionally, I encourage everyone to share this letter on social media platforms to help amplify the call for justice, ensuring that this story reaches as many people as possible. Raising awareness is essential for real change, and your support on social media can be a powerful tool in our fight.

I want this story to reach as many people as possible, across North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond. If you can help in any way by sharing this information or contacting the relevant organizations, please do so. It’s been a long and painful journey, but I refuse to stop fighting for my daughter’s memory and justice for what she endured.

Sincerely,
Wendy Woodham
[Contact Information]
Email: wendywoodham1994@yahoo.com

---

Organizations for Investigation and Support (North Carolina and South Carolina):

Scotland Memorial Hospital (Laurinburg, North Carolina, Scotland County)

Florence Family Medicine (Florence, South Carolina, Florence County)

North Carolina Medical Board

South Carolina Medical Board

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

The Joint Commission (TJC)

Scotland County Health Department

North Carolina Civil Rights Organizations

South Carolina Civil Rights Organizations

Local News Outlets (e.g., WBTW, The Laurinburg Exchange)

National Patient Safety Foundation

Patient Advocate Foundation

Social Media Platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.)

North Carolina Medicaid

Department of Social Services (DSS) - Scotland County, Laurinburg, North Carolina