‘Where do we go from here?’
The distraught parents, Durel Hooper and Bibi Girdharry
The distraught parents, Durel Hooper and Bibi Girdharry

–Berbice couple relives the anguish of losing their first child

 

THERE was no mistaking the anguish he was going through.
“How do I deal with having an expectation of embracing my first child, to having him die moments afterwards, and now caring for a sick wife who has to be treated at a Georgetown hospital on a weekly basis,” Durel Hooper said.
As he spoke, his wife, Bibi Girdharry, sat there, staring blankly at the walls of their Smythfield, New Amsterdam home.
Her husband put into words what she was feeling inside. “My wife is now struggling and fighting for her life. This is not fair; I am terrified; I cannot believe this! I want the world to know that it was due to the negligence of the New Amsterdam Hospital that I have lost my son, my first-born,” Durel Hooper said, the resolve evident in his voice.
It’s been six years since they’ve been together, he said, and in all this time, he’s never known Bibi to be sickly. That was until she had the baby.
“Soon after the delivery, she began experiencing respiratory complications, and oxygen had to be administered. My wife does not have any medical records; this whole incident was unnecessary,” an obviously perplexed Hooper said.
He tried seeking an explanation from the medical authorities. “After my son’s death, I wrote to officials at the hospital, but no one has responded. Apparently, my child is not worthy, but I need justice,” Hopper said.
By this time, Bibi had composed herself and was ready to speak. She recalled her husband going with her to the nearby Smythfield Health Centre on May 16 after she began experiencing some contractions, and being told she was not quite ready yet; that she was likely to have the baby sometime during the course of the week.
But, being first-time parents, Durel and Bibi were not taking any chances, so they proceeded to the New Amsterdam Hospital where they saw a Gynaecologist-Obstetrician. And the doctor, in a way, concurred with what the people at Smythfied had said: That Bibi was not yet ready to have the baby; that she had another six or so days to go. By the doctor’s reckoning, the baby should arrive by May 22, and if not, then she should be prepared to be admitted to hospital.
True to the doctor’s word, Bibi was admitted about a week later, and up until then, everything appeared to be fine.

SO FAR, SO GOOD
The following day, she was given an ultrasound test, which confirmed that the baby was healthy. Then on May 23, at around 23:45hrs, her “water bag” broke; Bibi told one of the nurses on duty what had happened, and she told her that she was mistaken; that it couldn’t be her “water bag” that had ruptured; that the liquid coming out of her orifice was certainly not amniotic fluid.
But the way Bibi was feeling proved otherwise. Recounting the events that followed in great detail, Bibi said:
“After the water broke, I started to experience pains. At around 06:00hrs the following day, I went into the labour room.
“I was examined, and I measured four centimetres. Four hours later, I asked to be checked. But Nurse ‘X’ [name given] said that like every time I get a pain, I want them to check me, and it not suppose to happen like that.
“She refused to check, even though the pain intensified. At 12:30hrs, the baby stopped moving. Again, I asked to be checked. Initially, I was denied, but when the nurse did check, I was seven centimetres. Later, two doctors came. I told them I do not believe I could push the baby out, as it was big. Instead of assisting, they told me to shut up and lie on the bed.
“I complied, but the pain increased. I got up and started to walk. Again I asked them to check me, as the baby was not moving. Doctor ‘X’ [name given] told me it’s a normal baby, and that I can push the baby out.
“But I cried, telling him I cannot do so. Several doctors came around; they attempted to make space for the baby to descend the birth canal, but the baby was moving upwards.
“I felt the baby’s foot in my right side rib cage. The nurse examined me again, and green stuff came out; I asked her if that was normal, and she said ‘Yes.’
“Subsequently, I was given ‘drips’ to increase the labour pains. I begged and I cried; I pleaded with them to do a caesarian section, but they refused.”
She distinctly recalled one female doctor, who was dressed as though she was going to a party, asking her whilst texting or messaging on her phone, whether she thought they were there to butcher persons.
“I asked her whether she has kids,” Bibi said. “And after receiving a negative reply, I told her that she cannot know the pains I was experiencing.
“It was after receiving two bags ‘drips’ that they decided to take me to the Operating Theatre; minutes to four in the afternoon.”

HEAD TOO BIG
She recalled one Dr. Ganesh later telling her that the reason she had to go to the theatre was because the baby’s head was big, and could not pass safely through the birth canal.
“After I regained consciousness, I asked for the baby. They said he was okay, but whilst talking to my husband, one of the doctors told me that the baby has a medical problem, and that he has to go to Georgetown Hospital, and that I would have to stay behind at New Amsterdam Hospital,” Bibi said, adding:
“But I refused to let my son go, so I was also transferred to Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).”
It was on her arrival at the GPHC that the doctors would discover that she had a respiratory problem. An X-ray also confirmed that there was a mass at the right side of her stomach. A CAT-scan was also done, and that proved that there were blood clots in the lungs.
“I had to take oxygen. I was hospitalised for 12 days; I did not know my baby died; my husband did not tell me because of my condition,” Bibi said, voice trailing as the despair again threatened to engulf her.
Looking back at the fun times she and Durel had over the years, and the joy they’d felt when she became pregnant, the young mother said:
“I was a healthy woman when I entered the hospital to have my baby. Until now, I cannot understand what has happened; I am trying to relive that moment to see where I went wrong, even though I did nothing wrong.
“I cannot believe my child is gone; it hurts every time I think about It. The doctors and nurses are there to help; I was so happy to go and have my baby, but now he is no more.”
A post mortem would reveal that the cause of the child’s death was a condition called Neonatal Lung Distress Syndrome, one of the antecedents of which is severe brain edema.
Like his parents, the child’s paternal grandmother, Sharon Hooper, is still to come to terms with his demise.
“All we have is a photograph,” she said wistfully. “So much preparations were made for the addition of the family.”
According to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the New Amsterdam Hospital, Mr. Colin Bynoe, the matter is currently under investigation.

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