Accident victim on road to recovery
It is often said that local television news is all about crime, violence and traffic accidents. We won’t get into that argument right now, except to say that while the next story began with a horrible automobile mishap, it has a happier ending than most. Jacqueline Woods reports.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Four months after doctors said he had a slim chance of surviving, thirty-two year old Jerry Matura has beaten the odds and is today recovering at home. On May ninth, Matura suffered severe head injuries after the car he was travelling in, crashed on the Northern Highway. Matura’s best friend, Deon Ramclam, who was driving the vehicle, died on the spot, while Matura lost consciousness and remained in a coma for six days.
Carmita Matura, Mother
“Well when my husband first reached there at the time of the accident, he come and told me to let us prepare for the worst because he don’t think he’ll make it. So the prayers and things really help him, and God help him to be still alive.”
But the past several months have not been easy for Matura and his family. Following the accident, he was flown to Merida where he underwent a series of operations to repair fractured bones in his face and arms.
Carmita Matura
“So they had an operation on his left arm and they put a steel plate in it to help the bone because the bone was separated from each other. So they had to operate on him and put in a steel plate. Then they fixed him jaw because his jaw, the top and the bottom was broken. But all that they did was clean out his eyes because his eyes full of glass, so they clean that out.”
Matura still needs to undergo another operation to repair his damaged left eye and right hand. Carmita Matura says the road to recovery has been an emotional ride for the entire family, particularly when it comes to finances.
Carmita Matura
“It’s very hard because from the time of the accident I have to the take medication to relax me because it’s something very hard for poor people to go through.”
However, through the kind donations of family and friends the Matura’s managed to raise thirty-five thousand dollars to get the medical care their son needed.
Jacqueline Woods
Jerry, they say when people go through a near death experience like you’ve had it changes their life, they look at things differently. Has this happened to you?”
Jerry Matura
“Yes, it happened to me fi true.”
Jacqueline Woods
“How do you look at life?”
Jerry Matura
“Well everything I see or I think I see has changed… everything’s different about myself.”
Jacqueline Woods
“You don’t take things for granted anymore? You appreciate things more?
Jerry Matura
“Yes.”
Matura cannot remember what happened on the night of the accident only that he was seriously hurt. While at home, Matura does what he can to strengthen is hands.
Jerry Matura
“Just to get better with this. All I have is these two hands, so I have to get better with these two hands.”
Jacqueline Woods
“Are you able to lift anything with the hand?”
Jerry Matura
“No.”
But as difficult as it has been, Matura has been comforted by the love of his family and the hugs he receives from his four-year-old daughter, Tiffany, who is just happy to have daddy back home. Matura also keeps himself busy by taking short walks in his neighbourhood.
Jerry Matura
“I would go down the street to see my friends who ketch in the accident with me, his girlfriend. So I would go by their house and see them sometimes.”
“I can’t do things that I use to do, especially work, I can’t work like I used to, so I have to stay right here and depend on my Ma and Pa fi do everything fi me. I could do a lee bit fi myself, but besides that they have to do everything else fi me.”
However, Matura remains optimistic that one day he will be able to go back to work. Investigations into the traffic accident reveal that Ramclam lost control of the vehicle, which then slammed into a van before it ran off the road. Matura says he would like to advise drivers to be careful because an accident affects the entire family.
Jerry Matura
“Well danger is out there and hospital dah noh lee bit ah money. And the recovery part is a very hard part, so be careful out there.”
“I would like to say thanks everybody that helped and everything, my work, everybody just thanks for everything. Without them I noh think that I would be here, so just thanks for everything.”
Jacqueline Woods reporting for News 5.
The Matura family would like to give special thanks to Bowen and Bowen, B.E.L., the K.H.M.H., Dr. Francis Smith and the Eck and Guerrero families for helping them give their son the care he desperately needed to stay alive. If you would like to assist the family in its recovery efforts, you can get in touch with Carmita Matura at 225-3157.
