Mahendra ‘Sunil’ Persaud who lost his daughter; Varshanie after she was misdiagnosed and treated for “suspected” sickle cell and leptospirosis was eager to uplift a report from the public hospital to put her death to rest.
But when he finally received it last week Monday from the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) he was even more distressed and disappointed. The report stated that she died from “suspected cirrhosis of the liver and stress.”
Persaud of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice said Varshanie was always healthy and active. She was a dancer and singer and performed mostly at events organized by the Aditya Kids Trust Fund Foundation (AKTFF).
She was even looking forward to being a part of the Christmas parade that the AKTFF hosts every year. For three years she was dressed in a costume as one of Santa’s helpers.
She had also planned to perform two dances at the pensioners’ party at the Blairmont Estate. That would have been the third year she was entertaining the old folks.
Persaud said his daughter, being such a vibrant person would always brighten up his Christmas. But this year there would be “no Christmas for me because the light is gone…”
All he has left are wonderful memories of her. He recalled fondly that she had saved her money and promised to buy Christmas presents for him, her mother, Devi and her younger sister, Manisha.
In fact, the night before this interview her mother was looking at the rose Varshanie bought her last Christmas and became emotional.
Persaud said Manisha also loves the festivities of Christmas and the fancy toys and delicacies that come with the celebration. He said while the child misses her sister a lot he would try not to deprive her of her enjoyment.
Meanwhile, he lamented that parts of Varshanie’s organs were supposed to be sent to Trinidad for testing to confirm her cause of death. But he doubts that ever happened; based on conversations he overheard while waiting on the report.
He said, “The doctors couldn’t diagnose my daughter’s sickness and now this report that was supposed to confirm what really happened to her is telling me about suspect again! Like they just guess and write something.”
Varshanie was first treated at the New Amsterdam for sickle cell anaemia. After her condition worsened she was taken to the GPH in an ambulance and was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit.
He kept questioning the doctors about the girl’s diagnosis but was told that they were not her doctors. He later learnt that they were treating her for leptospirosis and that she also had dengue and kidney problems.
The grieving man said he is still finding it hard to cope with his daughter’s death and the fact that the cause of death is still not known, is making it even harder. “It is not easy that I mind her for 11 years and she died like that…”
Varshanie was referred to the institution from the Fort Wellington Hospital to undergo a test for sickle cell. She ended up being admitted for the night and by the next morning her condition had worsened.
Michael Itwaru, Public Relations Officer of the Berbice Regional Health Authority (BRHA), had told this newspaper that an investigation had commenced and that the team was awaiting the report.
According to him, the investigating committee which includes medical professionals has been doing a “diligent assessment of the case.”
Itwaru had said that the BRHA regrets that the child lost her life at such a young age and that they are aware that the pain the family is feeling is great.
