Penal mother stricken by mystery illness

Polly Ramsaran, 39, of Rochard Douglas Road, Penal, who was only able to whisper because of the swelling in her throat, feels that she would soon die if she does not receive the right medication.

Ramsaran said the illness, which caused her to be warded at the San Fernando General Hospital on numerous occasions during the last eight months, is being treated as an allergy. But she strongly believes that her sickness has been misdiagnosed.

A private doctor, who has also treated Ramsaran, is baffled by her illness describing it as “strange,” said Meresha, Ramsaran’s eldest daughter.

The family is now appealing to Minister of Health John Rahael to come to their assistance.

Ramsaran, who was employed as a domestic worker, said she was forced to quit her job because of the frequent relapses.

“Almost every day different parts of my body swelling,” Ramsaran said, while pointing to her eyes, legs and breasts.

“I have taken the allergy tablets that were prescribed for me by several doctors and nothing is working. Each time I fall sick I am getting worse.

“I am going to die and not see my children get big,” Ramsaran cried.

Unable to speak further about her medical condition because of the intense pain she was experiencing, Meresha, 19, recalled the first time her mother fell ill. She said it was after her mother ate a meal of rice and stew chicken.

Meresha said her mother went to bed after having her lunch and awoke to see her entire face swollen.

She said her mother was taken to the Penal Health Centre and was given a four-day supply of allergy medication, but two days after the swelling returned. Only this time, her mother’s throat began swelling and she had trouble breathing.

“We all got a scare because we thought she was going to die before our eyes,” Meresha said.

She said her mother remained at the hospital, for four days, where she received oxygen and a series of blood tests were done, but “all the tests came back inconclusive.”

“We went to private institutions and even the doctors there were baffled with my mother’s illness. One doctor said my mother was suffering from a strange illness, but he did not say what it was.”