Doctors veto surgery, mother says
Medical personnel yesterday decided against removing the bullet lodged in the chest of the young woman who was shot by an ex-boyfriend on Tuesday night, telling her relatives that the surgery could leave her paralysed.
“This ain’t mek no sense,” Sophia Pitman said yesterday, her voice muffled by an oxygen mask, as she lay on a hospital bed with tears in her eyes.
Pitman, 22, of La Grange, West Bank Demerara, and the mother of a two-year-old, was shot in the right-side breast by an ex-boyfriend on Tuesday night while making her way from work to her mother’s Robb Street home. She is now a patient in the High Dependency Unit of the Georgetown Hospital.
Sophia Pitman
Police yesterday said that no arrests have been made.
Her mother, Rosalyn John, told Stabroek News from her Robb Street home last night that after closely monitoring Sophia’s condition all day yesterday, doctors had told her that they would no longer be performing the operation to remove the bullet, which they had early said she had a fifty-fifty chance of surviving.
Pitman, who ended the relationship with her attacker some time back and moved on with someone else, could only manage a few words to relatives at the hospital yesterday. She was wearing an oxygen mask and there was a glass jar nearby, almost filled with fluid that had drained out of her body. Pitman was in distress, repeatedly shaking her head as she muttered words under her breath.
The worry over her daughter’s condition was evident on the face of John who had told this newspaper on the night of the incident that she was clueless as to what led to the attack. She was unaware of any grievances between Pitman and her ex-boyfriend, she said.
John said yesterday that what she has gathered was that two persons grabbed her daughter’s arms from behind, holding her still, while the suspect discharged a round, which hit her in the right-side breast.
This newspaper was told that the woman arrived at the hospital some 20 minutes after the incident in a terrible condition but doctors managed to stabilise her.
John said that earlier yesterday, the family was told by the nurses that the bullet was lodged in a bad place and if Pitman were taken to surgery she had a fifty-fifty chance of surviving. She said the nurses had advised them to get something for Pitman to eat and drink after which she would be observed.
John said Pitman had some food and drank some liquid but began crying out for pain. An injection was then administered to ease that discomfort.
It was much later yesterday, John said, that she was advised that a decision was made not to attempt to remove the bullet, since her daughter could be left paralyzed.
Meanwhile, she revealed that checks were made at the suspect’s North Road home, but he was not found. She said it is believed that he is hiding out in Linden.
In a statement, police said yesterday that they are investigating the shooting. According to police, the shooting occurred at 8 pm at the junction of Robb and Cummings streets, Bourda. Pitman was walking along the roadway when she was confronted by the man with whom she had recently ended a relationship. He pulled out a handgun and shot her to her right-side chest and escaped. Pitman was rushed to the hospital.
Sandhurst … Word on the street is that you’re “BULLETPROOF”. That being said, I was able to talk to the President today and he has decided to put you in charge of the GY Department of Homeland Security … with sole responsibility for the nation’s airports.and seaports …are you up to the task Sandhurst? You would have our full backing if you decided to use the following techniques on suspects: Torture, Roughing up, Squeeze, water boarding etc. to get the guns off the streets.
How sad that our young people in Guyana have become so violent. VIOLENCE IS NOT THE ANSWER.
My dearest you’re in my thoughts and prayers. I remember being age 22 i had such high expectations, and goals for my life as i was developing. The mere fact you were on your way home from work tells me you are an ambitious person, doing good to provide for you and your baby.
Mom seek all the advice and suggestions you can get, “lodged in a bad place” is unacceptable. Let the doctors be very specific as to where this bullet is lodged and you seek information by researching from various sources what’s the probable outcome should it be removed. Meanwhile do encourage your daughter and yourself to be strong. The fact that she did not die instantly indicates that she is still in the Lord’s hand. Let her try not to distress herself, as all her strength is currently needed.
GPF, JS & GDF it is with urgency that i urge you to apprehend that slimy, ignorant, maybe unemployed scum of a coward.
This bothers me a lot these men/women cannot move on why!!!!!!!!!! these LOOSERS dont understand if someone does not want the relationship, JUST LEAVE…..let it go ; we all had relationships which ended for one reason or another.
We cannot control every situation in your life…..even if hurts. GET OVER IT !!!!!!!!!!
Do not feel you have to end the person ’s life …that is the behaviour of a sick , insecure and deranged person. I pray this young woman recovers and get strong to move on and enjoy her life. Hope this other man is good to her.
wow
If this was my relative, I would ask for a second opinion . These doctors seem confused in their diagnoses. I don’t understand why she would be given solid food to eat if she may need surgery at anytime. She seems to be in a critical state and requires expert attention. Questions….questions……….. family, ask them all of the doctors , don’t be afraid.
GPF, get on this before it gets cold, as I read this I see three men who are wanted for her attempted murder, and should she die, her murder. This would be murder in the first degree and I hope the killers all get life!
When caught this one needs a little ruffing up.
Like I said before,Is it open season on women, in Guyana. Of all the murders in 2008 how many are women ?. I pray that Miss Pitman, get all the help she need.
Like I said, BAN ALL GUNS,,,the only people who should carry guns are the POLICE, the primary purpose of a GUN is to KILL, rob, and steal… we came to Guyana and met the Amerindians hunting, and they had no guns, so what is the problem with trapping?. The very guns that the “HUNTERS” have in their possession, often are used on family members in domestic violence. STOP THE VIOLENCE, STOP THE ABUSE, STOP KILLING OUR WOMEN,,,,BAN ALL GUNS.
Look….forget about the abuse going on in the Corrections System in Georgetown, bring back the whip…. whip these fools, give them the lash! Forfeit their lives if they take a life. Build a new prison in the interior…..let these fools work for their meals nothing free. Work them everyday 5-6 breaking rocks or work them in the sand pits. Let them experience the real prison life … that it’s not a revolving door. If you commit a crime you will pay. Govement make an example of a few with long long sentences, then drop lashes on them. Break these fools…make life hard for them behind those walls. When they realize the jail is not a bed of roses, they will think about committing bodily harm or any crimes against humanity. Whip them…bring back the tail!
maybe these thugs can be useful. clean the filth off the prisons sothey can be accommodated, then having them there, use the whip., use the roughing up, use torture, anything you can put your hands on. this young girl has a child depending on her. this is insane having all these people walking around with shot guns. no one is safe anymore in guyana.
Supersand69
some people here want criminas to be housed in 5* hotels -served with breakfast in bed with sauna and swimming pool and a tenis court….if a criminal is squezed a bit for info-they cry hollwer and bawl blody murder…ad that to what you recomend it will be the end of the world for sum blog heads hey……the foolish fool could not take rejection…..i hope he is found pretty soon…at least he will know he is wanted…security people dont reject men like him….
You have very valid points, my only concern is those bleeding heart people (you know who I’m talking about),,,,,,Human Rights, who are only visible when the Government tries to rein in terror in the country. Good luck, I hope everyone is listening.
In response to TIGER,,,,I AM NOT ASKING YOU,,,I AM TELLING YOU , that’s all I’m gonna say. I’ve worked in the system for 29 years, 8 months and 3 days,,,,I KNOW what i’m saying.
Guns in barrel doesn’t make sense. You are talking Ram Goat bring Jimmy Cock story.
Leo Rojo
Lindenbanna –you are out of yoyur mind or this is a figment of your imagination .Maybe that used to hapen in the 60’s or 70’s . I read where you said that you were in the us army and reserves for years –is that the system you are referring to —which I doubt . Dont give people false hopes or a bad name to your birth place . I understand that you are blogging but atleast be serious .
SUPERSAND, I WHOLLY AGREE WITH YOUR EVERY WORD. HOPE SOMEONE IS LISTENING.