Seven months after an accident that claimed two lives at Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, 10-year-old survivor Sameer Samshuddin is undergoing treatment in the United States where he is said to be recovering quickly.
On the morning of October 2, a large group was travelling to Blairmont, West Berbice to attend a function when the vehicle they were travelling in lost control and slammed into a lamp post at the Airy Hall, Mahaicony turn. Raheem Xavier, 12, of Calendar Street, Albouystown, reportedly died on the spot after being flung from the tray of the Tundra pick-up truck into the lamp post, while 15-year-old Collin Williams succumbed at the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital.
Samshuddin was hospitalised in a critical condition for a long time and was said to have suffered trauma to his head and chest. After three months at the Georgetown Public Hospital, the lad returned home where he was bedridden and unable to help himself.
His father, Mohamed Samshuddin, had compared his son’s brain to a blank CD which had to be filled. The boy had to be taught how to do everything again, as though he was a newborn.
Since then, the family, except for Mohamed, migrated to the US where Sameer has been able to receive better treatment. These days, the active and very playful child enjoys the company of his siblings who don’t mind caring for him. He is said to be more independent and uses a walker which he manages quite well on his own. In addition, his speech has improved allowing him to better communicate with his family and doctors.
“Every time you see him or talk to him there is improvement. His speech has improved by 100%, the injuries he had to his foot is also improving. The doctors are working assiduously with him and he has had physiotherapy done,” a cheerful Mohamed told Stabroek News on Sunday. The man said he is very relieved that his youngest child is recovering at a fast pace which he noted surpassed the expectations of the medical team that has been working with him abroad.
Sameer is expected to undergo his final surgery on May 15 which will fix his jaw. The injury to his jaw was said to have affected his speech so it is expected that talking clearly would be no issue for Sameer after completing this procedure. According to his father, he would be undergoing more advanced physiotherapy after the surgery as the doctors expect that he would be walking properly by August.
Mohamed also noted that his family has been successful in “refilling the CD and the CD has accepted the new teaching and everything is coming back. The five senses are there now and he understands everything,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the driver of the vehicle, 34-year-old Asif Hack, who was also seriously injured in the accident, is reportedly doing much better. According to Mohamed, Hack is doing light work and has returned to operating a taxi though his spinal problem remains.
