Tobago boy loses fight for life

THE PARENTS of four-year-old Donnell Mark of Tobago yesterday thanked Health Minister John Rahael, doctors, and officials at the North-Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) for all their efforts to help their son. Donnell died on Wednesday at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) at Mt Hope from multiple organ failure. He arrived at EWMSC on February 22 to undergo a follow-up surgical procedure, but was warded in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit for one month, due to complications from that surgery. His parents, Brian Mark and Theresa des Vignes, expressed concern about the type of treatment which their son was receiving up to that point.

Newsday highlighted Donnell’s plight in a March 28 story and, as a result, Rahael intervened and this saw EWMSC Chief of Staff Dr Rowland Moze meet with Mark’s parents to review the case and see what could be done to help him. Mark and des Vignes said despite efforts by doctors to stabilise Donnell, his condition deteriorated last weekend and he died on Wednesday. They said an autopsy was done on their son at EWMSC yesterday and the Health Ministry has paid all the costs regarding Donnell’s funeral. They said the ministry has also paid for their plane tickets back to Tobago. Mark and des Vignes said while they still had lingering concerns about the way Donnell’s case was handled while he was at EWMSC, all they wanted to do now was take their son home. The funeral is expected to take place in Tobago next week.