O.W. family begs for blood as accident victim clings to life

It was a story that never made it into the police press reports … a mid-morning traffic accident on the Guinea Grass road that left a pregnant woman in critical condition. Three weeks later, family members continue a bedside vigil at the private ward in the K.H.M.H., hoping against hope that their loved one will survive to be a mother to her newborn baby and two other young children. News Five’s Janelle Chanona reports.

Janelle Chanona, Reporting
This three week old baby girl is nameless tonight while her mother fights for life at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Twenty-six-year-old Charles Tillett is hoping that one day soon his wife Lydia will be well enough to name their newborn.

Lydia Rodriguez was admitted to the K.H.M.H. on February-seventh in critical condition. She was eight months pregnant at the time. The young mother has since stabilised, but has undergone five operations, including one to save her baby and another to mend her spine.

According to family members, around nine that morning Rodriguez left her home in Guinea Grass to go to Orange Walk to buy clothes for her baby. She got a ride with a fellow villager, but had to sit in the pan of the truck. Somewhere along the road, the driver lost control and Rodriguez was thrown from the vehicle.

Charlie Tillett, Husband
?She really stand bad right now, critical situation.?

Janelle Chanona
?Where is she hurt the most??

Charlie Tillett
?She got lot of hurt. She has four ribs broke, they operate ah back yah (points to spine). Five surgery she done get. They operate her fu tek out the baby.?

Janelle Chanona
?What?s it like looking at your child and knowing that your wife is in the hospital??

Charlie Tillett
?It?s hard for me.?

Doctors tell News Five Rodriguez is on respiratory support, but her prognosis is not positive. The twenty-six year old is suffering from bronchial pneumonia and general sepsis. Tonight her family is pleading to the public for financial assistance and blood donors.

Charlie Tillett
?To help me with anything, I really would appreciate that. I need blood too.?

Janelle Chanona
?What kind of blood??

Charlie Tillett
?It could be any blood: A+ or O+.?

Rosita Pasos, Victim?s Mother
?I would like to ask, especially ask a lot of donation of blood. She has already received twenty-two units and we only have sixteen to give it back and we need more blood and she needs more blood. She had five surgeries and right now she is in a critical. … She has a lot of expenses, she needs medication and I don?t know what the doctor will say.?

Janelle Chanona for News Five

No charges have been filed against the driver of the vehicle which Lydia Rodriguez was travelling in when the accident occurred. If you would like to help the family, please contact Hipolito Rodriguez at 600-6661. Lydia and Charlie Tillett are the parents of two other children age four and eight years old.