Baby Patricia’s survival slim

DOCTORS at the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) yesterday revealed that the chances of survival still remained slim for baby Patricia, whose mother Patricia Montrichard, died two Mondays ago at the hospital while giving birth to the baby girl. Baby Patricia’s father, Cipriano Cova, said doctors had diagnosed the child as suffering from a stomach infection and requested blood for the baby from the family. The two-week-old child has been breathing with the assistance of a ventilator since birth and is being fed through a tube. Nurses are closely monitoring the baby’s condition and are limiting visitors to only immediate family members. Cova, of Agostini Village, Rio Claro, said he donated the blood three days ago and was prepared to do anything to ensure that his first-born survives. This after he lost his common-law wife Patricia Montrichard (the baby’s mother) during the delivery.

A still-grieving Cova told Newsday: “I don’t want to lose both of them at one time. She resembles her mother so much. They are identical.” The father said he spends his spare moments praying for the good health of his baby girl and is anxiously awaiting their first touch. “I feel quite sad that I can’t even touch her or give her a kiss. It hurts that I can only peep at her until I am satisfied, then go home,” he cried. Montrichard, 27, died at SFGH during a Caesarian-section delivery of the baby — her third child. An autopsy revealed Montrichard died after fluid from her water bag went into her lungs, causing her to asphyxiate. Subsequent to her death, Cova and Montrichard’s relatives  filed a written request for an investigation into the incident and said they intend to take  legal action against the hospital.