Point Fortin mother Kurleen Cooper, who was mauled by three pitbulls, is continuing to make good progress. She has started to walk on her own. Doctors at the San Fernando General Hospital said yesterday Cooper's treatment had been going well and she might soon be discharged. But the pregnant mother is worried her injuries would become inflamed if she was released too soon and lacked proper medical attention. It's been one week since she was attacked by three pitbulls which escaped from their owner's premises. Cooper was returning to her South Central Road home after dropping her children off at the nearby Salazar Trace Primary School when the dogs attacked. She sustained severe blood loss and multiple flesh wounds. After a five-hour long surgery, doctors successfully saved her right arm which was almost torn off.
On Sunday, the five months pregnant woman was elated at being able to see her seven-year-old daughter, Jahmiah, and five-year-old son, Jesse, for the first time since the incident. So enthused was Cooper, that she was able to walk from her hospital bed to the bathroom and cupboards, despite wearing multiple bandages on her legs and feet. Her unborn child was reported to be producing a strong heartbeat and showed no signs of complications. She said she was still traumatised by the incident.
"I am traumatised by this incident. I keep getting these visions about these dogs biting me. I started to think about my children and courage just came over me. I started to bite and kick these dogs because I did not want them to get my baby." Grimacing from her pain, she thanked doctors and nurses at the hospital, saying that despite several flaws in her treatment, people were dying around her while she was still alive. She said someone from the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) contacted her and offered assistance for her to obtain a house for her and her family.
Cooper lives with her children in a small plywood shack which is unstable. When released, she would have to stay in the care of her relatives until she makes full recovery. Meanwhile, the pitbulls involved in the attack remained in their owner's care.
Police said they were able to speak to the owner who said that on the morning of the attack, he left the pitbulls secured while a few mongrels were left loose around the yard. Police said only one other person in the area had a pitbull and he lived a mile away from where the attack took place. An investigator into the incident is expected to meet with Assistant Commissioner of Police Fitzroy Fredericks to discuss the progress of the case.
