Janelle Christie
Eight months after a fatal bus crash along the Llandovery Roadway in St Ann, the youngest victim of the crash which claimed the life of five persons, still remains in a vegetative state in hospital.
Kaci Ferguson, a student at Lime Tree Gardens Primary School, was seriously injured and left unable to respond, following a fatal bus crash on the Llandovery Road, on Friday morning, May 27, 2016. Five people were killed in that crash after a bus said to be defective flipped over and crashed into a small SUV.
The hospital had indicated to the family that Kaci could be taken away for home care. Some members of the public have made contributions in cash and kind for her home care.
Information reaching the North Coast Times is that apart from developing a chest infection recently, Kaci has not got anyway worse and is apparently able to detect some motion and sound. The Times was informed that she responds to sound by clutching and to movement by setting her eyes on the subject. She is still unable to speak, but makes unintelligible sounds.
Kaci was taken for her first medical review since the start of the year, on Thursday January 5, and is scheduled to go back for another review within two months.
A surgery to replace fragments of Kaci’s skull is also to be done. Sections of the girl’s skull were surgically removed after her initial hospitalization in Kingston, to accommodate the swelling of her brain at that time.
According to the source, there is no intention of going forward with this operation while Kaci remains in this state as her inability to move might cause more complications after the procedure is done. The family is watching to see Kaci’s condition improve before consent is given to go ahead with the surgery.
This surgery is estimated to cost J$600,000. The Times is, however, unable to say whether it is a single operation or several minor ones.
According to Kaci’s mother, Karen Dawkins-Ferguson, there has been no contribution from the public since last year and that Kaci’s father along with herself, are solely responsible for maintaining Kaci financially.
Last year, The Times informed the public that Mrs Ferguson had intention of seeking medical assistance from overseas for the bed ridden child. When asked about the progress of such arrangements, Mrs Ferguson said “I am working on it.” This was also her response when asked if she is making preparation to take Kaci home, from the hospital, anytime soon.
In the latter part of last year, the St Ann’s Bay Hospital had given a special needs bed to Mrs Ferguson, after it was said that Kaci, who was still unresponsive could have been discharged to the care of her home in Priory, St Ann. The hospital’s care has been praised by Kaci’s family.
The family is still awaiting the ‘miracle’ for the little girl who is still only able to ingest water, Ensure and Pediasure.
