Former St Joseph’s Convent, Kingstown student cries for help

Life is becoming very hard for an ailing woman who takes care of her elderly mother, but who has now lost her ability to do so.

“I can’t even do anything for myself any more, I need help just to get up out of my wheelchair,” said Earleen Williams, who lives with her mother, Gertrude Williams at Asburton.

The former student of the St Joseph’s Convent, Kingstown, made it to form 4, before further educational advancement was snatched from her as the medical condition progressed.

Earleen who is now 49 years old, lost her ability to walk, when she was just 18 years old.

Two years later, she received a wheelchair to aid in her movement around the house and enable her to do some chores.

The young woman was later diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a potentially disabling disease of the brain and Central Nervous System.

Although quite young then, she accepted her fate and was determined to live as normal a life as possible.

Although having to rely on the use of a wheelchair, Earleen was able to care for her elderly mother, preparing meals and helping in whatever other ways she could. Three years ago, while sitting in her wheelchair and frying plantains and eggs for her elderly mother, Earleen suffered burns to both knees.

That was a further set back, but the determined young woman recovered from her injuries and continued caring for herself and her mother.

However, things took a turn for the worse this year, when Earleen suffered burns again from hot oil.

“I was frying bakes and was trying to to turn them, when the frying plan toppled off the stove” and onto her right leg.

This happened last month and Earleen was hospitalized for 16 days with first degree and second degree burns. Life has changed drastically for the 49 year old woman since that second burning incident.

“Although I am in a wheelchair, I was still active and was able to help myself and my mom, but now, I can’t even help myself. I cannot even stand up to go to the bathroom any more,” Earleen related.

What makes the situation even worse, is that Earleen’s elderly mother is also not in the best of health and needs full time care and attention.

The government has provided the family with home help personnel who visit three times per week.

The other days, they have to try to fend for themselves or depend on the generosity of others.

At present, Earleen’s bother is visiting from oversees and helping tend to her needs and the needs of his mother.

However, he is due to return overseas soon and Earleen is now wondering who will help them in this their time of need.

“This is like a real big setback for us because now, I cannot help do anything for my mother, and I can no longer do anything for myself,” she said.

“I even need help to turn on my bed to prevent me from getting bedsores.”

She is just asking for someone to help them prepare meals and assist in other ways.

Both mother and daughter are also in need of adult diapers, as none of them is currently able to go to the bathroom.

“We really need the help, especially at nights,” Earleen related, “if my mom takes sick, I cannot come off the bed and get in my wheelchair to help her any more.”

Earleen is praying and hoping that help would come soon.