In January 2023, 71-year-old Frank Kryzak trusted Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital to help him heal. He needed surgery to remove a mass from his neck and check his lymph nodes. It was supposed to be a routine procedure, one that would help him move forward with cancer treatment. But what happened in that operating room left him in pain—and changed everything.
“I was optimistic,” Kryzak recalled. “I thought I was finally on the path to recovery. I had no idea things were about to get worse.”
The Pain That Wouldn’t Go Away
After the surgery, Kryzak expected to feel relief. Instead, the anguish made his neck swell, leak, and ache. Months turned became weeks, and days into weeks. The soreness wasn’t just bothersome; it was unbearable. Because he was not getting enough sleep, his daily life became challenging. He sought explanations, but the doctors could not identify the reason for his failure to recover.
“I kept asking them, ‘Why am I still in pain?'” But no one had an answer,” he said. “I simply waited.”
A Shocking Discovery
In May 2023, Kryzak finally had another procedure to find out what was causing his persistent health issues. Doctors found something shocking: a surgical sponge had been left inside his neck during the initial treatment. His cancer treatment had been delayed, and he had endured months of unnecessary suffering due to an infection caused by the sponge.
Kryzak said, “I was devastated, furious, and confused. I couldn’t believe it when they told me.” How could they have failed to notice it?
A Lawsuit for Accountability
Kryzak decided to take legal action, filing a lawsuit against the surgeon, Dr. Aqeel A. Sandhu, as well as the surgical technician and nurse involved in his procedure. Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital was also named in the suit. His attorneys contend that a setback in his fight against cancer, infections, and excruciating agony resulted from their improper tracking of surgical materials.
Kryzak clarified, “It wasn’t just the physical pain.” “Knowing that this could have been prevented caused an emotional toll.”
Awaiting Legal Action
When asked for comment, the hospital did not reply; the complaint will be considered in court in May 2025. Along with his fight for justice, Kryzak believes that his story will serve as a warning to others about the need of responsibility in healthcare.
He said, “It should not be necessary for anyone to go through what I did.” “I could have lost my life because of this.”
