A local mother is beaming with pride after her one-month old received treatment at a medical facility in St. Vincent.
Upon hearing Sabina Louis’ story, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, was not only thrilled as her story had a happy ending, but was moved to tears.
Louis, who is mother of a bouncing baby boy, Saiyeem Valcin, met the prime minister recently and the two discussed her son’s remarkable recovery.
That conversation was shared to Facebook.
In a video, she explained that her son (who had extra fluid in his brain) was not able to be treated in Saint Lucia and was “very pale” after birth.
“He was due on the 28th (of July) but two days before I wasn’t feeling him moving so I decided to do a checkup just to make sure everything was okay. When I got (to the hospital) they informed me that his head (was) bigger than normal. I was admitted because I was already 40 weeks,” she said.
Louis gave birth on the 31st of July.
“I was very worried. Like what’s going to happen, how is he going to grow up (and) what (would) his life be like. When he came out he looked normal to me but the doctors told me (I) would not be able to see (what’s wrong) but due to their profession they can,” Louis told the prime minister.
“I was told that due to excess fluid in his brain he can get seizures (and) he could have complications with the heart. He stayed in hospital for one month, came home for a week and after this week we’ve been here (in St Vincent),” the mother said.
According to her, Saint Lucia was no longer an option after she gave birth as the island didn’t have a “medical doctor or the equipment to do it so we were sent here. We were referred to St Vincent (and) we were put on the WPP (World Pediatric Project) list.”
Saiyeem’s medical care came free of charge, to her surprise. In fact, Louis said she anticipated a hefty bill, and as a result, was trying to raise funds for him.
“Although I had medical assistance with insurance … I was wondering would I still be able to cover (the cost) … I was very worried,” she said.
“When we heard that WPP would take care of it we were very happy (and) relieved. We were just thankful,” she added.
The World Pediatric Project (as noted on the Government of St Vincent’s website) is an international humanitarian and health care organization that provides advanced pediatric diagnostic and surgical services to various countries.
Today, Louis is giving thanks for it.
“I’m very happy now I’m going home with my son. I’m looking forward to… him living a healthy life. I know that he will have a scar but (it will be) a scar to remember. It will be a testimony for him to know that there are good people out there,” she said joyfully.
“He has about five to six feet of tubing in his stomach so if he grows up to be (as) tall as me it will support him. (The) doctor said that he’s going to live a healthy and normal life,” she added.
But that’s not the only blessing she found along the way. Louis told the prime minister that her journey to St Vincent had been absolutely wonderful and that a complete stranger opened up her home to her.
“St Vincent has been very good to me and I love it here,” she stated.
“I met some lovely people (and) I would like to say thank you,” to the stranger who showed her remarkable kindness.
“I met her at the hospital. She overheard my conversation when I was (looking) to spend some time at a hotel because I got discharged, and when she heard the conversation she came up to me and asked if I would like to spend some time at her home,” she explained.
And that’s how she ended up staying with the Vincentian.
Her story (and Saiyeem’s) is one of triumph and Dr. Gonsalves noted this much in his Facebook post.
“Sabina Louis shows how a mother’s love is the most unstoppable force as she saves her son, one-month old Saiyeem Valcin. From St Lucia to St Vincent with nothing but hope and love we are happy to have made a normal life possible,” the prime minister said in the post which was shared on September 30.