The mother of a 9-year-old boy says she is angry because an older student battered him at Kingstown Preparatory School on Oct. 22, resulting in the child developing meningitis and having to undergo brain surgery.
The mother, who asked that she and the child not be identified in this article, told iWitness News that her son is now having seizures and is asking her if she still loves him despite the scars from his surgery.
The child’s situation is so serious that he is at the Paediatric Critical Care Unit of the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) in Kingstown, the nation’s main healthcare facility.
“… by talking to the doctor, today, [I found] out my child is the sickest child on the ward because that’s the only child in the critical care unit,” the mother told iWitness News.
“Right now, my son has started having seizures. He had a seizure today. I didn’t even know it was a seizure he was having. I start seeing him shaking and his eyes rolling back up in his head, and then I’m going to find out from the doctor that he has been having seizures since he came to the hospital,” the mother told iWitness News on Tuesday.
“My son never had seizures before. The only thing my son I know my son, ever had a health issue is asthma. So now he’s taking medicine for seizures…
The mother, who lives overseas, had to return to St. Vincent to permit doctors to conduct a craniotomy — a surgical procedure to remove part of the skull to reach the brain — on her son after the beating came to light, some days after it occurred.
“He got injured at school, and he developed meningitis, and he had a brain — meningitis — infection and it ended up going down in his spinal cord. His blood went to 5%; he was a dying child.”
She said that her son, a Grade 4 student, lives with his grandmother and aunt. The mother said that her son initially did not tell his guardians that another student had beaten him up at school.
“… he kept it like secret until he started feeling a lot of pain and having a lot of headaches. One time, I saw he looked a little bit distracted. And he told me on the phone he needs a painkiller. So, I tell him get his grandma to get the painkiller for him…
“After the child started crying for headaches, I told my sister to question him,” she said, adding that her child is very quiet.
“And he started telling her (his aunt) this girl beat him up and slammed his head into the door and on the concrete in the school in his class.”
The mother said her son was taken to the Calliaqua Health Centre, which referred him to MCMH, where he underwent a CT scan.
“And then is when it got serious. So, it’s been more than two weeks since he’s here in the hospital,” the mother told iWitness News.
She said her son underwent the surgery on Nov. 12.
“This was necessary because he had a lot of inflammation – pus — in his head. The neurosurgeon told me she took out 100 ml of pus from my son’s brain — not foot, not hand; brain!
“And then after that, he’s in the ICU, trying to recover because he’s on the highest antibiotics they have. He has to take a lot of medication to flush and put back in.
“I’m not a doctor, so I cannot really [really explain]. I’m not being rude to you — he’s on a lot of medication, a lot. He’s in a lot of pain because they keep chooking there and chooking there to get IV hole and all these things. It’s a lot for me, and I can’t even talk nice to you because I’m so angry. It’s not even funny,” the mother told iWitness news.
She said that her son is responsive and told her on Tuesday what had happened to him at school.
“It’s the same story. The girl come in his class and she wanted to pass, and I don’t know what transpired, and she battered him.”
The mother said that before her son was admitted to the hospital, his aunt went to the school to find out what had transpired.
“When she go to the school, they did give her the information that the school did find out that the child did do it. She was denying it at first, and then she admitted because other students saw and they came forward, and talked.”
The mother said the school sent a report to the Ministry of Education.
“I haven’t heard anything from the Ministry of Education. Nobody from the Ministry of Education tried to reach out to me either. It’s just the principal and the counsellor for the school and his class teacher.”
The mother told iWitness News that the school told her that the mother of the child who allegedly injured her son had said that she (the mother of the other child) did not want to speak to the mother of the injured child.
The mother told iWitness News that the situation is stressful and frustrating.
“I live at the hospital. I have to stay here. I don’t ever go home. I sleep, I shower, I change my clothes here.
“I feel disgusted. I am devastated. I am angry. I feel like I want to go and take my own revenge. That’s how I feel,” the mother said, noting that she has only one child.
“He’s my only child, so as a mother, I would have come forward and say, ‘Mommy, I’m very sorry for what happened, what transpired.’ And I woulda try to see what I could do to comfort the parent, in any way, whether it’s financially, help them with something — come forward. But they clearly don’t want nothing to do with me,” she said, referring to the parents of the child who allegedly injured her son.
The mother said she plans to get a lawyer and sue.
“… my son has trauma now. My son’s telling me today, ‘Mommy, I ugly? You still love me the same way?’ And these things are traumatising to me, too. I start crying because I don’t know how to deal with this. I don’t know how to cope. My son is watching in his tablet, and telling me he’s ugly, and I have to keep reassuring him that he’s handsome because of the scars….
“All the pressure is on me… The hospital doesn’t do all the tests that are required. I have to pay for the outside lab tests. I have to be hiding in the bathroom, crying because of all the agony he’s in.
“It’s a lot. And it’s like nobody’s saying sorry, just the principal. The principal didn’t hurt my child, the counsellor for Prep School didn’t hurt my child. The class teacher didn’t hurt my child. It’s a child who hurt my child.”
She said that her son’s surgery had to be postponed by one day because his blood count was too low.
“He had to get blood from the blood bank. All these things. Nobody from her family didn’t even come forward to say, ‘OK, let me check in.’ I have to donate blood to the blood bank.
“They don’t care. If I take things into my own hands now, you will hear them label me as a crazy, terrible person. ‘Oh, she crazy long time.’ ‘She terrible.’ I would be the worst monster ever.”
My sister, I feel your pain 🙏
This is so heartbreaking, it brought tears to my eyes. Can the parent/s of that other child please reach out to this mother and show some compassion? God knows, this is just not right!
This is really disgusting the way the parent said she wants nothing to do with the boys parents we all are mothers I sure that she would’ve done or reacted the same way if she was in this position. Im the boys aunt and we had to fill in for the mother while she was away going to the hospital and seeing him like that in pain my heart was in pain I had to stay strong and hold back my tears.i agree u need to sue .because u can’t work your son can’t go to school and how are u gonna provide for u and your son with no income I’m on your side.
This situation is a very sad one, and to say to you mommy continue being strong for both of you, You are doing well. Water run down my face reading this knowing is not my child, what if it was mines? I have a 9 years old daughter and an 18 years old son as well and I pray everyday that I don’t have to go through any trauma for anything being done to any of them. God alone knows if im in such situation I don’t know what I will do as a mother. The pain we have to feel knowing we cannot do anything to help take away the pain of a child going through any sort of pain let alone having to reassure them that they not ugly they are still handsome or pretty or beautiful to say the least. I’m sorry you are in such situation and pain and have to be the only one bearing the grunt of it. It have an old saying that every mother cry is all mother’s cry. I pray that your son recovers very soon and out of harms way. I also hope that the little girls mom comes forward with some sort of reassurance because something like this is not easy for you alone to carry.
I was a little thrown off at first, thinking the scars were from the battering he received. I’m familiar with the feeling of watching your only child lying on a medical bed in a dire situation, helpless and unable to defend himself. I genuinely pray you get justice, the help that is needed and that your son believes your words as you repeat them to him as often as you can that he is handsome, to you his mommy ,he is alive so give the Almighty God thanks and praise.
Right now, your focus should be on him. Even if your heart and mind are telling you to take revenge (do it the legal way when the time comes) however, leave that aside for the moment until he is well. I’m not sure how the court system works, but if there’s a time limit on reporting the matter, then make sure to get it in.
Then after it is in continue looking after your prince — he needs you now more than ever, until his self-worth is restored.
I hope these words help.
So sorry for your pain and son’s pain.our children are getting aggressive, they need counseling about conflict resolutions.some parents allow the media to parent their children,they play games that cause the aggression,but the ministry if education needs to get involved.i say take it to them,and try and ask God for wisdom going forward, it can’t be easy for you.just assure your son that you love him no matter what he looks like.
This is the reality of our justice system. When you are poor this is the treatment you get. My dear is that soon and very soon people might start to take street justice
To the parent of the child who beat this poor boy, you should feel ashamed of yourself for not reaching out to this mother, and checking on this child. Shame
I just heard about this, and I, too, am deeply hurt. My thoughts and prayers are with the mother during this difficult time.
I was not present and do not know exactly what happened. However, I must say that, at times, some parents allow their children to do as they please without setting boundaries or considering the consequences of their actions. It’s important that we, as parents, take responsibility and guide our children, even when it’s difficult to do so.
No way my child in pain —–. Please note you are not a monster or crazy.
This is a very sad story! I sympathize with the mother, and her son who was battered; our children at school need to be taught how to resolve conflict. I pray that this boy will recover, with God’s help; mom, may you get all the assistance you need to go forward. I will pray for you and your son.