-CHW Pretty Debideen hailed as ‘guardian angel’ for her life-saving intervention

WHEN all hope seemed lost, electrician James Thomas refused to give up. Determined not to become an amputee, he sought a second opinion and trusted the process, his faith in God never wavered.
Today, that faith and patience paid off. He received the help he needed, has regained the use of his legs, and has returned to full mobility.

Thomas, a diabetic and well-known electrician in his village of Bartica, was injured while installing a solar panel on the roof of a building.
On that day, the sun was exceptionally hot. After completing the task and beginning his descent, his sandals began to slip on the zinc roofing. To prevent falling, he removed them, a decision he would later regret.
Barefoot, he tried to make his way down, but the intense heat of the zinc sheets burned his feet severely, down to the bone.

Due to his diabetic condition, he was hospitalised, where medical professionals informed him that the leg had become septic and would need to be amputated.
Devastated and unwilling to accept this fate, Thomas took a self-discharge and returned home.

According to his wife, Jacqueline Thomas, while attending a funeral at Caria Caria, on the mainland of the Essequibo River, she mentioned her husband’s condition to some acquaintances.
They advised her to contact the Community Health Worker (CHW) at the Fort Island Health Post for help and she did.

Mrs Thomas told the Guyana Chronicle that she wrapped her husband in a blanket and took him aboard a large boat travelling the Bartica/Fort Island and Parika route, bringing him to CHW Pretty Debideen at Fort Island.

Upon examining Thomas’s feet, Debideen discovered a bone fragment had flaked off and become embedded in the flesh, leading to the infection and discolouration.
She made an incision to remove the fragment, immediately relieving some of Thomas’s discomfort.
After this, he began visiting Fort Island every other day for dressing and treatment.

However, due to the high cost of travel, he could not maintain the schedule. In an extraordinary act of compassion, CHW Debideen opened her home to Thomas, who stayed for 10 days.
During this time, his wounds were treated and dressed daily.

Slowly, he regained mobility, was able to wear shoes again and eventually returned home. Thomas remains deeply grateful to Debideen for her care and kindness during what was a terrifying and uncertain time.
“I feel really blessed to be able to regain the full use of both legs. Being able to wear shoes again feels really good. Now that I’m fully healed, I’m more conscious of my diabetic condition,” Thomas shared.

The bond between the Thomas family and the Debideens has grown stronger over the years. They continue to visit one another, maintaining a friendship built during a time of crisis.
Mrs Jacqueline Thomas, 62, expressed heartfelt thanks to Debideen for the excellent care she provided during a period when it felt like all options had been exhausted.

“It goes to show that miracles can happen when you least expect them. God’s mercy was upon us, and we’re thankful for it,” she said.
A mother of five, Mrs Thomas is originally from Saxacalli, Essequibo River, but her family relocated to Bartica so she could attend secondary school.

A retired pensioner, she worked her way up from stores clerk to storekeeper, and finally to Administrative Assistant at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) office in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) before retiring in 2017.