Two years ago, Berbice teacher Monix Hetemeyer survived a car crash. Now, because of her passion to institute change and offer support to other crash victims, she has been selected to head a new committee developed by the Guyana National Road Safety Council called Survivors Unite.
Hetemeyer was forced to have her leg amputated in the aftermath of a car crashing into the restaurant where she was dining with a friend in New Amsterdam, Berbice in February 2022. A man, who was speeding, had driven a Toyota 212 car into Big B’s Restaurant on Main Street, New Amsterdam, injuring Hetemeyer and her friend and shattering the eatery’s glass frontage. He was subsequently charged with dangerous driving, failure to render assistance, being an unlicensed driver, and operating a motor vehicle without insurance.
Hetemeyer, who along with teaching at the New Amsterdam Secondary School was a part-time lecturer at the University of Guyana, had to deal with challenges she never imagined following the incident. However, she continues to persevere, turning every challenge into a positive opportunity to grow.
Hetemeyer said, “I feel wonderful saying this now after two years. Yes, I’ve survived. I am a wife, mother, singer, musician, educator, and motivational speaker. On February 19, 2022, to be exact, my life changed significantly.
“My friend and I had just finished a nice dinner and engaging conversation when a car crashed into our table. I can honestly say that it was the worst day I have ever had. My left leg was amputated below the knee as a result…”
After the incident, Hetemeyer found out that the driver did not have a licence and the car was not insured. “Honestly, the problem was made worse by this knowledge. My friend and I might not have been in the situation we were in if the driver had a licence; who knows? Thankfully, despite suffering terribly from the event, none of my friend’s limbs were lost.”
Being a highly active person, losing a leg “was not going to be easy for me,” she said.
“A careless person who failed to exercise due care while operating a vehicle has now made my life difficult. How is my life right now? This year, thanks to the tireless efforts of numerous people, notably the Road Safety Council, I was able to get a prosthesis, which has really aided me. I’m able to lead a rather regular life. Together with my husband, I serve as the pastor of the Redeemer Full Gospel Church in addition to being a lecturer at the University of Guyana. My life, as you might imagine, is frequently busy because I am also a mother of two as well as the founder of a few organisations. I can’t say that this journey has been easy, it hasn’t, but with the help of God, as well as that of my family and friends, it has gotten a little bit easier.”
Expressing gratitude to God, Hetemeyer stressed, “I have persevered because of my faith in God. In every interview I give, I state unequivocally that if it weren’t for God, I don’t know where I would have ended up. I am also incredibly appreciative of the help I have received from my relatives, friends, and even strangers. I’ve found a lot of strength in all of the support. For this reason, when Ms Ramona Doorgen [Coordinator at the Guyana National Road Safety Council] asked me to head a group that would work to aid survivors of vehicle crashes, I jumped at the chance.”
According to her, Doorgen said to her that when she thought about starting the committee, it was Hetemeyer’s face that she saw heading it. “I smiled when she said it, even though she was unaware of it at the time because we were talking on the phone. I went through it and still bear the scars, so if anyone can identify with what these individuals are going through, it’s me,” Hetemeyer said.
The committee – Survivors Unite – was formed with a mission to provide compassionate and comprehensive support to survivors of road crashes and their families. Hetemeyer said: “We are dedicated to alleviating the physical, emotional, and financial burdens that arise from traumatic incidents. Through a multidisciplinary approach, we aim to empower survivors with the resources, information, and networks necessary to navigate their recovery journey, rebuild their lives, and find hope in the midst of adversity.”
She stressed that the committee will make every effort to provide the survivors with the network of support they require to lead a life that is relatively normal. “As I mentioned, one of the main goals is to promote collaboration,” she said. “We therefore want to carry out our objectives through collaboration with various agencies. Life is unpredictable, and tragedy can happen at any time, but as caring human beings, it is our duty to assist those in need in whatever manner we can. The committee will be established this year, and then work will begin.”
As a survivor, she said, helping others who are in a similar situation has now become her life’s mission and she strongly believes that the committee can achieve its objective, “one step at a time.”
Key focus
Key objectives and areas of focus for the committee include: medical and psychological support to ensure survivors have access to quality medical and psychological care, including counselling, therapy, and rehabilitation services; information and advocacy to educate survivors and their families about their rights, available resources, and legal options, and advocate on their behalf to ensure fair treatment and compensation; financial assistance, including grants, loans, or access to programmes that can help cover medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and other necessary support; community and peer support to establish a network of survivors, peer mentors, and support groups to foster a sense of community, understanding, and shared experiences.
Importantly, the committee, which was developed in November 2023, will also focus on prevention and education – to raise awareness about crash prevention
measures and provide educational resources to help communities and individuals minimise risks; to advocate for policies and regulations that enhance safety measures and offer support to crash survivors and their families; crisis intervention and helplines to establish helplines and crisis intervention services to provide immediate assistance and emotional support
Additionally, the committee is also aiming to focus on collaboration and partnerships; to work collaboratively with government agencies, healthcare providers, legal experts, and other stakeholders to ensure a holistic approach to survivor support.
The committee can be contacted at unitesurvivors524@gmail.com.
