Untreated for Hours: A Brush with Death
Valimaki left to suffer as hospital prioritizes trauma patients
After a horrifying incident on the ice, NHL player Juuso Valimaki was left untreated for several hours at a local hospital, causing him to endure unnecessary pain and risk his life. Despite being accompanied by his wife and a Coyotes employee, Valimaki was given the shocking advice to go to a hotel and return the next day due to the “overworked” hospital staff focusing on incoming trauma patients.
Injuries and Delayed Medical Attention
The shot that struck Valimaki in the face left him unable to function, with a hole in his mouth and significant internal bleeding, according to Daily Faceoff. Shockingly, it took the hospital five hours to finally administer 55 stitches, leaving Valimaki with the loss of three teeth and a fractured bone. Doctors later revealed that if he had gone to a hotel as advised, Valimaki could have died due to asphyxiation from his own blood.
NHLPA and Investigation
The NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA) has confirmed that it is jointly investigating this matter. Both the league and the Coyotes have yet to respond to inquiries regarding the incident. Valimaki was initially informed by the hospital that he would have to wait two days for surgery, but thanks to the intervention of the NHLPA, he was able to undergo surgery in the early hours of the following morning. It took an hour for Valimaki to receive any care in the emergency room, and a shocking four hours until his face was even cleaned up.
Cooperation and Recovery
Doctors from the Stars, the opposing team, tended to Valimaki at the arena and emphasized the need for surgery at a proper hospital. The team has stated that they are fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation. Valimaki has since returned to the ice, but he continues to wear a face mask as he recovers from the traumatic incident.
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