Sascha Wilson
Point Fortin mother of three Penni Beckles-George got the life-saving brain surgery and she is doing well.
Through the generosity of good Samaritans, she was able to raise the funds– $200,000 for the four-hour procedure– Cerebral Artery Aneurysm Embolization– which was done by Caribbean Heart Care Medcorp (CHCm) at the St Clair Medical Centre on Wednesday.
“Everything went well. However, there was a challenge at one point that they were able to overcome,” said her husband Daniel George.
After the surgery, she was kept at the Intensive Care Unit and then discharged at 1.30 pm yesterday.
Last month, the couple was shot into the limelight as they made a public appeal for funds to pay for Beckles-George’s surgery.
Doctors diagnosed her with a brain aneurysm and a brain tumour.
However, she was advised that she needed to do the surgery for the aneurysm urgently because it could have burst at any time, resulting in her death or serious health complications.
But, the procedure was not available at the public hospitals.
Recalling that prior to the surgery his wife was experiencing mobility issues with her right foot and hand, he said, “Her foot and hand is feeling strong. Her fingers could move normal. She is able to open and close her right hand as normal. Right now she is eating her lunch using her hand right hand.”
As for the headaches, he said they will have to monitor her to see whether the pain was as a result of the aneurysm or the tumour or both.
As for the tumour, he said, “We have to wait to see how recovery goes before the doctors could decide to deal with the tumour which is expected to be provided free at the public facilities.”
The aneurysm surgery was initially carded for March 22, but the couple did not meet the financial commitment.
Also, on March 19, she was rushed to the hospital where she was warded for 10 days.
By then they had raised the funds, but they had to wait for the report and scans from the MRI which was done while she was at the hospital.
Thanking everyone again for their help, support and kindness, George said even after they closed the two online donation accounts, people were still calling to make contributions to their bank account.
And, although he told them they had met the target, George said people kept donating. They raised approximately $250,000.