Overseas-based doctors treating seven-year-old Shaniya Persaud, who was severely burnt more than a month ago after a fire gutted her Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara home, has given her a poor prognosis for recovery.
This disclosure was made yesterday morning by non-governmental organisation Saving Hands Emergency Aid (SHEA), which said that one of Persaud legs, a few of her fingers and a section of one of her ears were removed on Friday night.
SHEA, one of donors that aided Persaud’s transportation to the United States for treatment, explained that despite doctors “incredible” efforts to save Persaud life, her wounds are not healing.
“Shaniya has been fighting an uphill battle and despite her doctors’ incredible efforts to treat her extensive injuries, her wounds are not healing. After trying everything possible, they were left with no choice but to amputate one of her legs, a few fingers, and a section of [an] ear last night [Friday],” SHEA said in a Facebook post yesterday.
The organisation stated that Persaud also has internal injuries that are difficult to treat and noted that her doctors have given her a poor prognosis for recovery.
Persaud, who was initially said to be recovering well after undergoing several surgeries, departed Guyana for emergency medical treatment on August 10th.
Due to the severity of her burns, she was transported via an air ambulance at the cost of US$40,000, which is equivalent to more than $8 million in local currency.
The cost was covered equally by the Rotary Club of Demerara and SHEA.
The Mon Repos Primary School student sustained second and third degrees burns to 97% of her body in the fire, which started around 1 am on August 5th at her house at Lot 101 Mon Repos North.
At the time of the fire, Shaniya and her brothers, Akeem Persaud, 9 and Brandon Anthony, 13, had been left home alone as their mother, Samantha Gayadin, was attending a wedding in the community.
The origin of the fire remains unknown.
A decision was made to have Persaud taken overseas after local doctors declared that not much could be done for her here.
Persaud was accepted to the Shriners Hospital in Galveston, Texas, where she is being treated free of cost.
