It is indeed an honour and a pleasure to make people’s lives better. Love, kindness and service are three gifts we should give to our country daily, as it should be our desire to help contribute to the development of our people. I am about to embark on a journey to do such and I want to invite you to join me.
Two Sunday evenings ago around 6:30 p.m., Serenity, my 20-month-old, fell and broke her elbow. It was a bad break and the doctor termed it a supracondylar fracture. We packed our bags and headed to FMH. We arrived there just about 7:30 p.m. and were able to see the doctor in five to ten minutes. X-rays were done, pain medication given, the arm casted and we then headed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) just after 9 p.m. Nurse Tracy Davis in the Accident & Emergency, who was professional, caring and communicated with us well, assisted us on arrival and by approximately 1 a.m. I think, we arrived at Ward C7 (Paediatric Ward).
Just after 5 a.m. (Monday), Serenity was taken for surgery. She returned to the ward a few hours later to rest and be observed. It was communicated to us that later an X-ray would be done to see if the surgery was successful and once that was done, she would be discharged.
Tuesday around 11 a.m., my wife and I were very concerned since 27 hours had passed since surgery and no one came to neither assess our little angel nor take her for X-rays. I saw the doctor who admitted her and shared my frustration. She called the X-ray department and they told her they already did the X-ray. I communicated that was impossible since we were with our daughter all the time and no one came. My wife and I spoke to a nurse who spoke to another doctor and within 45 minutes we were invited to take her for X-rays, which we did.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday passed and not one doctor came to check my 20-month-old or read her X-rays. On Thursday evening I was furious and decided to make a personal phone call to a senior doctor whom I met a few months ago on account of a refurbishing project I want to do on the labour ward. I called Dr LeFonde, shared my situation with him and in about two hours, he was able to get in contact with the doctor responsible and the following morning, Friday, my Serenity was discharged. Amazingly, Dr LeFonde came and visited us also, thank you.
Yes, it took from Monday morning till Friday morning for my daughter to be seen. I want to publicly commend the nurses on Ward C7 who do an excellent job and give special thanks and praise to student nurse Rachel-Ann Simmons who was exceptional. Serenity is doing well.
While in the hospital for five days, I observed many issues, spoke to nurses and have determined to help. On the ward, there was no hand soap, paper towel or tissue in the bathroom; no dishwashing liquid or towels in the kitchen; and some of the hand sanitiser dispensers were empty. Actually, I passed six on the corridor and only two were filled. The hospital often runs out of soap for nurses to wash their hands, gloves, gauze, disposable diapers, sanitary napkins and pain relief medication. Due to lack, disposable items such as silver pots for urine testing in Antenatal Care, medication cups and nebulisation masks are reused. The list continues but space wouldn’t permit.
This is our hospital and our people and we have a responsibility and opportunity to help. I was able to donate hand soap for the bathroom and want to donate some other needed items. I can’t do it alone, but collectively we can pool our resources, networks and money to help make our citizens stay better.
Ward C7 has about 16 beds and only four fans, which means most children will be very uncomfortable and restless. Let us together source those 12 other fans. In a later article I will share what is needed and the costs associated. Through my C2J Foundation Inc. we will help our children and make their lives better. Join us.
• Corey Worrell is a former Commonwealth Youth Ambassador.
