A
Point Fortin family is appealing through the pages of the Spiritual Baptist
Online News Magazine for assistance for their daughter.
Father of the young woman, Reverend Keith Bachan, said that he feels as
though he is standing facing a wall because he does not know where to turn
again for assistance. His daughter, Zoe Bachan, 23, is recovering from an
operation to correct a medical condition called scoliosis, but needs help to
return to her doctors in the
US
for a badly needed check-up.
Scoliosis is a condition which affects the spine of children, teenagers, and
adults alike.The
father explained, “Her ordeal began while attending primary school at the
Cedros Government School, Cedros village, South Trinidad. Zoe constantly
complained about experiencing pains in her back. Her pains were so severe
that we were forced to remove her from school. This move denied her the
opportunity of attending high school.”
Reverend Bachan said that for several years he visited various doctors
across the country in search of a diagnosis and a possible cure for Zoe’s
illness.
He
continued, “My daughter’s pains were so unbearable that neither pain-killers
nor pain injections were of any assistance to her.”
Reverend Bachan added, “Fortunately one day someone advised that we should
visit a particular chiropractor in Couva. It was the chiropractor who told
us that Zoe was suffering from scoliosis. “
He
added,” The chiropractor referred us to a doctor based at the San Fernando
General Hospital but when the doctor there saw the X-rays he told us that my
daughter needed surgery but that such a surgery could not be performed in
Trinidad. This doctor explained that Zoe’s spine was already bent at a 55
degree angle and that they couldn’t handle her case here in
Trinidad and Tobago.”
The
doctor assured Zoe and her family that all was not lost. He gave them a
referral letter to take to ‘John
Hopkins Hospital’ located in Baltimore, Maryland. However, Reverend Bachan
confided that the visit to John Hopkins’ Hospital was not the
one-stop-fix-all he hoped that it would have been.
He
explained, "I went to
Baltimore to do the groundwork. But rather than set up a date when my
daughter could be admitted to the hospital, the doctors at John Hopkins
referred her to the Texas Orthopedic Hospital, located in Houston, Texas.”
He
said that during this short time in
Baltimore he was able to befriend members of the Spiritual Baptist religion
under the guidance of Bishop Leon Mohammed of
Mt.
Nebo # II and this friendship proved a source of strength for him.
Rather than crumble under the load of disappointment, Reverend Bachan said
he turned his down courage into strength and headed for
Texas.
But even the Texas trip proved not to be as easy as he expected. There was
more for him to contend with.
He
added, “The first thing the doctors there told me was that we had waited too
long to seek treatment for Zoe’s condition. They said that the surgery to
correct her scoliosis was a very complex one and that before they attempt to
operate on her they wanted us to sign a release form freeing the hospital of
any responsibility should it be the case that the operation was
unsuccessful. We had to sign a form saying that should the operation result
in my daughter’s death, deformity, or paralysis the hospital wouldn’t be
held responsible.”
The
father continued, “They explained that her spine had curved a little more.
When she was first diagnosed it was at a 55 degree angle but had curved some
more to a 60 degree angle. The specialist at the hospital also explained
that they needed to bring in experts from other hospitals to assist in the
operation. The reason they said was that they had never performed such an
operation of its severity before.”
Reverend Bachan said that the surgery was performed in May (2006) and was
successful. Zoe returned to
Trinidad a short time later but was advised before leaving the US that it is
imperative that she return soon so that the check-ups can be performed.
The
father added that he has reached a spot where he does not know where to turn
again. He explained, “The initial fee for the surgery doubled in cost. It
increased from $75,000 to $154,000. To date, we have paid approximately 80%
of the bill. We owe a balance of approximately $64,000. This was made
possible through financial assistance from
Trinidad and Tobago
government, family, friends and well-wishers. I also sold my house, my car
and everything I own which could be sold in order to make up the money for
the hospital, but we still owe the hospital and they keep sending us bills
for payment.”
However this is not his only concern, Reverend Bachan explained, Zoe is a
normal child now. She is free from those pains she had. However, although
her operation has been successful, her feet have begun swelling. Her doctor
here in
Trinidad has advised that she return to the
United States
for her check up as was previously recommended by those doctors who
performed the surgery.”
The
father explained that rescinding his agreement to pay the hospital is not an
option. He noted, “The hospital, because on their humanitarianism policy,
accepted my daughter’s case and operated on her although they were aware
that we did not have all of the money before they performed the surgery.
Based on this policy, the Embassy in
Trinidad tries to enforce that the patient’s and their families stand up to
their obligation.”
He
said that this is done by the embassy issuing a warning on the visas that
should the party fail to pay their medical bill it could result in the
patient being debarred from future entries to the
United States.”
Reverend Bachan said that he is appealing to members of the public for
assistance so that not only can he take Zoe for her checkup at the
Texas
hospital but so that he can also pay off the arrears owing.
When
asked about how she was doing now, Zoe replied, “I don’t have to walk
assisted with a cane or anything, but I just have to take my time to move
around.”
Those
wishing to contact Zoe, or her father Keith Bachan can do so at:
7 Hollywood Road
Hollywood Village
Point Fortin, Trinidad, W.I.
Or
(868)
762-8155
To
read more about Sciolisis please visit our Health page.
