Belize City man survives gunshot to the head
Not too often, victims survive bullets, in particularly when the gunshots penetrate the skull and brain. And while the majority of the cases we’ve reported have ended in loss of life and grief, there is one minor that has a good chance of leading a normal life after he was wounded last week. Such is the case of seventeen year old Adolfo Gomez, who was shot just one block away from his Queen Charlotte home as he returned from his job in Ladyville. Gomez was shot in the head at close range as he headed home shortly before nine last Tuesday night. The bullet penetrated his skull near the left temple and lodged in his brain, but after several hours of surgery, neurosurgeons at the K.H.M.H. were able to remove the bullet and stop the bleeding. For three days Gomez clung to life in a comatose condition. But today we can report that although still hospitalised, Gomez’s condition has improved from critical to fair, and he is now able to once again talk. When the incident happened, the Gomez family had all but given up. But this evening, just outside the surgical ward of the K.H.M.H. where he is currently recuperating, News Five spoke with Gomez and his mother, Flori. Medical Services Director at the K.H.M.H., Doctor Khalid Ghazy, explains the medical intricacies behind Gomez’ condition.
Dr. Khalid Ghazy, Dir., Medical Services, K.H.M.H.
“That case actually is one of survival, one of the successful stories of Karl Heusner actually. He got a gunshot to the head and up to now he is in fair condition. We can’t say that he is in the stable up to now because most of these cases have an immediate impact because we talk about infections and these things that happen in those cases. Long term complications might be something like his vision or epilepsy or convulsions in his future but at the meantime we can say now it’s a successful case. It was dealt with vigilance from our neurosurgeon and it’s one of the successful cases that the Karl Heusner is proud of.”
Marion Ali
“Has that surprised you all that he actually survived that?”
Dr. Khalid Ghazy
“Actually, yes. For a family when their loved one is hit in the head that’s definitely a little shocking. At the hospital we see some patients actually survive. There might not be much but this was one of the successful cases; that case.”
Adolfo Gomez, Survived Bullet to the Brain
“I feel like I mi wah dead. From me think I mi wah dead and all bwai. Some ah dehn bwai seh I noh wah dead, I wah live. When time I want work, I would ah want my son or my daughter come and live wah lee different from me—real different from me, noot even live wah ghetto life or nothing like dat. I di live di ghetto life right now.”
Flori Gomez, Mother of Shooting Victim
“When somebody come tell me dat my son ketch gunshot I mi feel bad but right now me happy fi my son. He done di talk and everything. Good fi he.”
Dr. Khalid Ghazy
“The extent of injury was bad because the patient was in coma but it was an immediate action from the team.”
Marion Ali
“And then you performed a surgery right?”
Dr. Khalid Ghazy
“Yes, they performed surgery. It was immediate surgery that was done to the patient to stabilise the bleeding from the brain tissues. And that by itself will decrease the pressure on the brain and the outcome most of the time would be good and that is what happened in this case. That does not mean that the other cases that come here will be intervened but there are certain cases there is a huge damage and the patient will not survive it. the surgery will not save them so this is the difference.”
As for the gunman who allegedly shot Gomez over an old beef, also seventeen years of age, he was remanded today to the Hattieville Boot Camp. Gomez says he forgives his attacker and holds nothing against him. The accused gunman, a resident of Allenby Street, was charged today in the Family Court with Attempted Murder, Dangerous Harm and Use of Deadly Means of Harm. His next court date is October seventh.
