Testimonials

Life before the accident

I led an active life before that accident on October 3, 1990. I enjoyed a good game of netball or basketball or any game for that matter.  I taught Spanish to students all over Kingston travelling to their schools, homes or work places.  I also worked as a track coach as I am also a trained physical education specialist.    

How the  crash occurred

At the time of the accident I was heading to one of my students. Within two minutes of leaving home at approximately 9:20 a.m., I was involved in an accident.  I was a front seat passenger with my seatbelt on traveling along Mandela Highway towards Three Miles.  As it was told to me a speeding car going in the opposite direction crossed the island and slammed into the car in which I was traveling.      I didn’t see, feel nor hear it happen.  I was pinned down and persons who tried to help release me made matters worse.  I am grateful, however, to the people of Riverton City who helped to remove me from the scene of the accident.  I was unconscious.

Injuries received and hospital experience

I awoke up in the Casualty Department of the University Hospital of the West Indies at about 6:00 p.m. eight hours later.  I was in tremendous pain with blood all over and was unable to move my entire right side.  When the doctors looked at my x-rays, I was told that my hip had been crushed. 

I remained in that hospital for two weeks after which I had to be transferred to a private hospital because there was no available surgery time as many other accident victims were also waiting surgery.   

After care

The first surgery lasted over 10 hours.  For the first three months after I had to be on my back with that always leg outstretched.   I had to be lifted in and out of bed; even feeding myself became a difficult task.  I went back to work after six months, on crutches, because I had exhausted all my leave.  I remained on crutches for three years while the doctors tried to mend the hip with three other operations. 

The pain was overwhelming.  After three surgeries, in two years, a replacement was done.  That worked for about 10 years and then it had to be revised, that is replacing the replacement, because it had worn.  I guess I was trying to continue with my regular activities.  To date I have done seven surgeries.  Of course this type of treatment is usually done in older persons who would have had broken their hip or whose joint could have been eroded due to arthritis or other diseases usually associated with old age.

Life now

The doctors have done a great job and so I lead a pretty normal life but I am restricted in the types of exercise I can do.  For example I was advised not to run, jog, dance for too long or do any aerobic exercise as the replaced   hip will wear faster   I cannot wear high heels.  It’s become extremely difficult to do a simple thing such as put on stockings or polish my toenails.  Though I not in any pain now I am constantly reminded of the accident with a huge scar on my thigh, which makes me stay away from the beach.

Because of this accident I have had to give up coaching, or playing any sport. 

Cost

Care after the accident, both in and out of the hospital, was very high and was in the region of about $1.5 million.  This was paid for by way of loans and gifts from my    friends and relatives.