Crash survivor uses wheelchair

The 50-year-old mother was among three survivors of the February 24 car accident in Sea Lots, PoS which claimed the lives of 28-year-old Haydee Paul, and her two daughters, seven-year-old Shakira and eight-year-old Akasha. Lalla was scheduled to undergo surgery last Wednesday to repair a broken bone in her left leg but tests revealed the bone was healing on its own, so she was sent home. Speaking to Newsday yesterday afternoon while her mother was resting, Samantha Lalla said doctors have scheduled Lalla for a check-up in “three to four weeks time.”

“Depending on how well the bone has healed by then, my mom might or might not need surgery. The doctors told her to spend the next few weeks resting and relaxing at home. We got her a wheelchair because she can’t walk and we wheel her to the gallery, the living room, wherever she wants to go in the house.”

Samantha also shared her relief at having her mother home for good, telling Newsday “it’s nice to know she doesn’t have to go back (to PoSGH) when the weekend done. She was allowed to visit us a few weekends recently but always had to return to Ward 14 because of the surgery. It’s good to have her home.”

Apart from her left leg, Samantha’s mother also suffered injuries to her left wrist. Hence her use of a removable brace and attendance at physiotherapy sessions at the hospital. Meanwhile fellow accident survivor, Ryan Rampersad, continues to receive long-term care at PoSGH’s neurosurgery ward - Ward 41.

Rampersad’s mother, Pearl James, spoke of her renewed hope in his recovery during an interview with Newsday following her morning visit to Ward 41 yesterday. “Ryan is getting better. Before, his eyes used to have a blank stare but now he’s focusing on things, following some movements,” she said. “He’s also moving his hands and feet a little bit. This is proof of what I’ve been saying all along, he just needs proper care and time to recover.”