Katherine Akum Lum is praying that after she undergoes major reconstructive surgery on Thursday, that her life will return to some level of normalcy.
In a telephone interview with Guardian Media from Norfolk Sentra General Hospital in Virginia, Akum Lum said, “I’m praying for a miracle.”
Akum Lum left Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday via air ambulance for the hospital in Virginia after Health Minister Terrance Deyalsingh intervened and payments were made by the North West Regional Health Authority.
Akum Lum sued the Authority after lye was used in a pelvic wash after she underwent a hysterectomy at the St James Medical Complex in June 2019.
The Authority has admitted that distilled water contaminated with lye was used in the pelvic wash.
As a result, Akum Lum, 54, suffered extensive internal damage and since then she has been living in excruciating pain.
She was bedridden for two years and two tubes had to be attached through her back to urine bags.
In an exclusive interview with Guardian Media, Akum Lum made an appeal to Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh to intervene after the Authority’s lawyers indicated that due to challenges accessing foreign exchange, they might not have had the money in time for her carded surgery.
Last week, Deyalsingh contacted Akum Lum and also publicly stated during Wednesday’s COVID-19 press conference that he would do all in his power to ensure that she went for her surgery.
Akum Lum told Guardian Media that she was expected to undergo pre-medical tests yesterday in preparation for Thursday’s surgery.
“Just being alive is a miracle that God has given to me. I am just going in with faith,” the devout Christian said.
She said everyone she had spoken to from the flight crew to the medical staff expressed horror about what happened to her.
“They can’t believe that this happened to me,” she said.
She is expected to meet today with Prof Kurt McCammon, who is leading the medical team.
“I know they are going to do all they could do. But, it is only when they cut me then they know what they can do to help me,” she added.
Akum Lum has been told that this is the first time that lye was ever introduced into someone’s body in this way.
Meanwhile, her lawsuit against the Authority is still before the court. Akum Lum is being represented by Freedom Law Chambers based in San Fernando.
