Kalaheo resident Brian Andrade, who works at a Westside slaughterhouse, rode a horse into Wilcox Memorial Hospital in Lihu‘e to cheer up his ailing grandfather in early March. Manuel Andrade, who lives near his grandson, was released from the hospital
Kalaheo resident Brian Andrade, who works at a Westside slaughterhouse, rode a horse into Wilcox Memorial Hospital in Lihu‘e to cheer up his ailing grandfather in early March.
Manuel Andrade, who lives near his grandson, was released from the hospital three days after the unprecedented equine visit.
The story of the horse visit, published March 22 in The Garden Island, quickly traveled throughout the state before it went national and global. Hundreds of Web sites late last week had posted a version of the article online.
The original story lacked the names of the rider and the patient as hospital officials would not tell. The hospital would not share the date of the visit or allow a photographer onto its property to see where the visit occurred.
The initial story received elated queries from a global public wanting to know who and when and how the grandfather responded to the visit.
Brian Andrade, who was reportedly intoxicated at the time of the well-intended visit, according to hospital officials, trotted the stallion onto a hospital elevator.
Security greeted him on the third level, a hospital spokesperson said, but brought out the patient to see his relative and the stallion.
Brian Andrade was escorted out of the hospital after Manuel Andrade reportedly said it was not his horse. He left in the truck and trailer in which they arrived.
State Health Department officials have said that they will look into the incident to determine any safety concerns.
The hospital, Kaua‘i’s largest, found no need for disciplinary action, but said it may consider tightening security.
Brian Andrade reportedly posed for pictures with the horse and an off-duty nurse, but the hospital has refused to release these “unauthorized” photos.
The overwhelming response to the original article prompted this follow-up article. Despite repeated attempts to get the family’s story and an agreed upon interview by Brian Andrade, Brian never showed up and has not returned calls since he agreed to the interview. Manuel did speak to a reporter though. Hospital officials were not willing to elaborate any further.
The true story may indeed be a horse of a different color.
