The community of Bare Root, East Coast Demerara was yesterday sent into a state of shock after a young mother and her three children were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) displaying symptoms of poisoning.
The 28-year-old food vendor and her children, whose ages range between 3 and 8, were up to last evening battling for their lives at the GPH. The children were said to be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.
The incident likely occurred around 12.30 pm at the family’s Bare Root home. The father of the children was not present as he is said to be working in the interior.
While it is unclear exactly what occurred, residents in the area told Stabroek News that during the wee hours of yesterday, loud sounds were heard coming from the house. By daylight, it was evident that the woman had destroyed several household items, which were seen broken outside the house.
It was when a relative who resides with the family returned home and saw the children vomiting constantly that they were rushed to the GPH, where medical officials diagnosed poisoning.
They were joined later by their mother, who was discovered frothing from the mouth.
When this newspaper visited the house yesterday afternoon, it was tightly secured. A broken television set and a kerosene stove were among the items strewn in front of the house.
When contacted, family members refused to speak on the incident.
However, a resident, who did not wish to be named, said she returned home from work and learnt of what transpired. “About 1, 2 o’clock this morning, I hear she did bruking up in there but I didn’t hear any screams or so,” the woman said.
She said she had noticed a change in the woman’s behaviour recently. On Thursday, she said, the woman, who usually sells food until afternoon every day, packed up and went back into the house before the lunch hour.
The woman previously attempted to end her life.
The Child Care and Protection Agency has since intervened in the case.
