When two-year-old Vishal of Nigg, Corentyne was born, his mother, Jenita Seyhodan noticed that his head had an unusual shape but she still hoped that he would be normal.
As he grew though she realized that he was different and her hopes had started to fade. But that was before she met president of the United Women for Special Children (UWSC), Ann Geer and another member, Shelly Bhagwandin.
She was happy that they would be seeking medical intervention for her son. The organization would also arrange for him to visit a pediatrician and then for further evaluation by a neurologist, Dr. Kenneth Gross who is attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital. Geer said she knew Vishal was “special” after reading about him in a World beyond Georgetown feature in the Sunday Stabroek and decided to make a special effort to visit him.
In the meantime, the organization has provided a quantity of items including milk, Nestum cereal, wipes and disposable diapers to the struggling woman. Vishal recently turned two and he also received birthday and Christmas presents from the women.
Geer said they have decided to reach out to the mother with immediate help in the meantime and that the items were enough to last for about four months. She had also done an assessment of the earnings of Jenita’s extended family and promised to assist her in the future.
Vishal was 11-months-old when Jenita took him to a bone specialist at the Balwant Singh Hospital.
The doctor ordered a head scan and based on the report he recommended surgery to correct the shape. But she could not afford the US$12,000 it would have cost.
Another doctor had told her that the child has brain damage and that it could not be corrected. Vishal’s limbs seem to be undeveloped as well and he is currently undergoing physiotherapy.
Although he is surrounded by lots of love from his grandparents, an uncle, a little cousin as well as a great-grandmother who lives next door, he still misses his mother when she is not around.
Jenita obtained six subjects at the CXC examinations but is unable to work. She had started a job but had to quit after the first half of the day because the child would not allow anyone else to feed him.
Apart from the $5,900 she earns through public assistance, she gets a little help from Vishal’s father at times.
The visit from the UWSC has made Jenita feel relieved. She was amazed that the women would go out of their way to find her son and help him. With happiness in her voice, she said, “Like God send dem people or something.” She told this newspaper that she always wanted to take the child to another doctor but “never had the money to go.”
She thanked the UWSC for their kindness and said she was “speechless when me see all the nice things that they bring. I never see so much things in meh life.”
“Me think dem just bringing a small parcel but when me see all dem things me din know what to say.”
