Teen battles to overcome paralysis

The 16-year-old St Mary’s College students misses the active teenage lifestyle he enjoyed before his accident but with support from his friends, he has managed to overcome several challenges associated with his disability.

Salandy, a Lower Sixth student told Sunday Newsday: “I still hang out with my friends, I still have a great time but I must admit it is stressful at times. I cannot go everywhere I would like to because my mother does not have a vehicle to take me around and not everywhere in this country is wheelchair accessible.”

He recalls the day when his life changed dramatically: “It happened on August 21. My friends and I were involved in throwing parties and we were preparing a venue.

I was sweeping near an elevator shaft that was covered with styrofoam but the iron grill that was below it was removed and I did not know. I stepped back while sweeping and I fell through landing on my back.”

In the months since his accident Salandy, with support from his mother, Donna, a single parent has been working hard to come to terms with his injuries.

Although doctors are optimistic that he will make a complete recovery, the teen is enduring a tough uphill battle.

“Due to my spinal injury the doctors have inserted two titanium rods, eight screws and two plates. Anywhere I go I have to carry papers to show that I have these things in my body so if I set off metal detectors they will know why,” he explained.

“Another thing that is a struggle is sleeping. I am a person who tosses and turns all night and since I have no feelings in my legs, my upper body turns but my lower half does not so I have to get up in the middle of the night to turn my legs in the direction of my upper body. It is overwhelming sometimes.”

The injury has also affected his attendance at school but Salandy is determined to continue his studies, regardless of the difficulties.

“It is difficult for me to even get to school. We always have to rely on the kindness of friends. My mother contacted the Trinidad and Tobago Wheelchair Association and they said they have a lack of vehicles so it would be difficult for them to come pick me up.

“When I do get to school its not that bad because my friends lift my wheelchair when I have to go down a few steps. The only bad thing is the computer and the audio visual rooms are up a lot of steps and it is practically impossible for my friends to lift me up all those steps.

“St Mary’s is not wheelchair accessible because I am the first wheelchair bound student that they ever had.”

Donna Salandy is thankful that her son is alive.

“I am not upset with anyone that this has happened to my son. Every night I check on him when he is sleeping and I see his face and I am so happy. I love him so much,” she said.

She has had to make some alterations to her home because of her son’s disability.

“The whole bathroom had to be done over. We had to put rails in the bathroom, we had to get a special shower head for him and a special toilet seat with handle bars so that he could lift himself off and on the wheelchair. Ramps have also been built for easier access around the house. All these things were done so that he can feel more independent,” she said.

The Salandys have been getting a great deal of support, financial and otherwise from an unexpected source — teenagers who have organised succcessful fund raising events to cover Salandy’s medical and other expenses.

One of the recent fundraising events was a fashion show and party at the Zen nightclub, Keate Street.

Funds raised from this event are being used to pay for Salanday’s therapy sessions.

“That was a great night, my friends from Providence, Rachel Sing and Ashley Arismendez, planned it as a surprise for me but I found out anyway,” he said.

His mother was very impressed at how the two girls accomplished so much with their project.

“Both of them are only 14 and they did such a fantastic job, they raised enough to cover his whole therapy for the year,” she said.

Salandy’s mother has decided to start a foundation to help persons who are temporarily paralysed.

“Its so unfair that I got so much help with my son and there are so many young people whose brains are working fine but they are just trapped in a body. My foundation will be able to raise funds to keep these people occupied and help them realise that their life is more than just lying in a bed and staring at the ceiling,” she explained.

Salandy wants people who are in his situation to remember that “there is always someone worst off than you.”

He said while he was in hospital he met a boy who had also been paralysed.

“There I was, feeling angry about my disability and there was this 15-year-old old who was paralysed from the neck down.

Since then I have been very thankful that I can still move my upper body,” he explained. The Salandys have expressed gratitude to the doctors and therapists who have given them a lot of support over the last few months.

“We want to thank Dr Henry Bedaysie who helped us so much. He is a man with a really big heart. Also Charmaine Kumar, his exerciser and godmother, who is there for him whenever he needs her,” Salandy’s mother said.