– mother thanks public for assistance
Bibi Khan, mother of eight-year-old Matthew Zaman who became paralysed following an accident on the Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara in December 2017, is counting her lucky stars that the young boy is showing signs of improvement.
Khan related that she had been praying for her son over the months, and this is a stage of comfort with the development in his condition.
The mother of eight explained that Zaman could not speak, or move his hands and legs, but is now able to sit up with little assistance.
“We try to see if we could get him to sit up, but he can’t sit up for long; he does sit up for 10 minutes at a time”, the elated woman told Guyana Times International during a telephone interview. Although he showed some improvement, he cannot breathe without the help of a tube in his throat.
Khan added that she has been contacted by several organisations throughout the country, and they willingly contributed to the cause with the aim of getting Khan better.
Other persons have shown interest in Zaman’s case, and are also willing to assist the family. “People (are) donating things for him, but he needs financial help,” Khan’s mother noted.
Nevertheless, she is thankful for all the love and appreciation shown to her and little Matthew Khan over the last few months.
Little Matthew was struck by a minibus outside their home at Lot 20 Felicity Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara on December 18, 2017 while he was playing.
The mother, who was almost brought to tears as she recalled the incident, said she was at work when she heard about her son’s tragedy, and she immediately rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where, to her horror, when she arrived there, her son was motionless.
Little Matthew sustained a fractured skull, which resulted in swelling in the brain; damage to his lungs, and injury to his spine, which hinders his mobility. At just eight years old, the child’s life has come to a drastic point, where he is unable to function like a normal child his age.
Breathing only with the help of tubes, due to the damage to his lungs; and feeding only through tubes as well, little Matthew has met a cruel fate. Recognising this, his mother said, she quit her job as a domestic worker to care for her baby. Khan, a mother of eight, said she had no other option but to leave her job.
She said this phase of their lives has become very challenging. Matthew’s dad does not play a role in his life, after his parents separated when he was just two years old; so his mother is left to grapple with all the expenses of raising her children and caring for Matthew. Khan says she has a 26-year-old daughter who assists her.
The driver involved in the accident had allegedly been charged for dangerous driving last December, and was released on G$100,000 bail.
The matter was adjourned until July 23.
