Family seeks answers to Nowelcia’s death

Nowelcia Thomas of Bay Road, South Oropouche, was involved in a two-car smash-up on June 30 at the Bamboo Village intersection, La Romaine. Two other persons died in the accident — Halliburton employee Robert Armour, 54, who died at the scene, and Lennox Pilgrim, 50, of Cocoyea Village, San Fernando, who died after spending three weeks at the SFGH.

Thomas, who suffered injuries to the head and limbs, was warded in an unconscious state in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit. She was buried on Saturday according to Islamic rites. The girl’s father and her two sisters yesterday vowed to pursue legal action against the South-West Regional Health Authority in connection with her death.

Nowelcia’s sister, Hanna, told Newsday yesterday that Nowelcia emerged from her comatose state about two weeks ago, and was transferred to the neurological ward. The deceased’s mother, Hafeeza Ali, said her daughter began to speak to her during visits. "She started to talk and eat (solid food) and you could see she was improving," Ali said. The woman said her daughter often hugged and squeezed her tightly.

Tragedy struck around mid-morning on Friday, however, when Thomas died in hospital.

The San Fernando police were informed about the death and, according to the family, doctors issued a death certificate. That certificate stated the cause of death as being, "Aspiration traumatic sub arachnoid haemorrhage." Yesterday, doctors explained that there was bleeding in the membrane surrounding the brain.

It was a grief-stricken Thomas family which sought explanation from doctors about Nowelcia and, not convinced, decided to have an autopsy performed on the body. The autopsy was performed on Saturday morning at the San Fernando mortuary by pathologist Dr Hubert Daisley.

Nowelcia’s father, Noel, displayed a copy of the death certificate issued by Dr Daisley, which he said conflicted with one issued by the SFGH.

On Dr Daisley’s certificate, it states cause of death was due to, "Asphyxia due to aspiration post RTA (road traffic accident)."

Hanna told Newsday yesterday that the pathologist explained that a food substance was found in one of Nowelcia’s lungs. Hanna said, "He (pathologist) said she died as a result of that food coming back down into the tube that was giving her oxygen."

Hanna added, "The accident put her in the hospital, but it did not cause her death." Ali, who said that the family has consulted with an attorney, commented, "I didn’t believe when they called and said she died. My daughter was recovering and she should not be dead today."

Ali said she would feed her daughter mashed potato, soup and other "soft" foods at the hospital. The nurses would also regularly feed her if the family did not turn up during visiting hours, Ali added.

However, the girl’s mother told Newsday that Friday morning, when Nowelcia died, relatives had not yet turned up to visit her daughter.