By Vanessa Cort

LAST Wednesday, I held the funeral service for my eldest child, my son, Akim. He was my first-born, the eldest of four sons, and the eldest of nine children.
Three years ago, in August, I held a similar service for my twin son, who died in a car crash on the East Bank road. I am devastated.
After the death of that son—Ishmael—I told my remaining children that I did not want to lose another child. But, of course, I have no control over God’s will, because, as a woman of faith, I say, “Thy will be done.”
My eldest son collapsed at his worksite at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara, and had to be rushed to the New Diamond Regional Hospital.
At the time of the incident, Akim had been talking to a colleague who had just pointed out to him that his speech was slurring. The next moment, he was catching my son as he fell.
By the time he reached the hospital, Akim was already paralysed on the left side of his body. A CAT examination revealed that a large area of his brain was swollen.
Akim was 45 years old and healthy, as the battery of tests he underwent showed no sign of illness.
He was a believer in organics, drank “bush tea”, and was careful with his diet. He preferred fish to beef and chicken, ate a moderate amount of rice, and loved “greens”.
He was knowledgeable about nutrition, and constantly researched the origins of illnesses, from the common flu to cancer.
He could give an informed assessment on a wide range of medical conditions, and would regularly stress to friends and family alike the importance of eating a balanced diet. He agreed with nutritionists when they said people should eat their food as their medicine.
As a child, he was never sick, to the point where his siblings would tell people, “Akim doesn’t get sick.” All who knew him said the same thing.
He was particularly concerned about the growing death rate in this country caused by hypertension and diabetes, declaring that diseases were caused by poor diet leading to the buildup of mucus in the body.
Medical experts believed that the majority of illnesses were caused by the accumulation of mucus in the body. Yet his death had nothing to do with mucus, but with the large swelling in his brain. This worsened and caused his death.
While I commend the medical staff, particularly the doctors, for the excellent treatment and care my son received, I can give no such kudos to the hospital, since there are several deficiencies that need to be addressed.
Further, my son’s death should serve as a warning to all those who disregard signs of illness.
For days, Akim had been complaining of a headache, but did nothing about it. He felt his body was indestructible. He would skip meals, and ate irregularly. But overwork and stress are “killers”, if for no other reason than that they can contribute to hypertension, which often goes “hand in glove” with diabetes.
I am reminded of the advice of a visiting doctor who urged Guyanese to have regular medical check-ups to ensure the early detection of disease.
TO BE CONTINUED…
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.