Team of doctors speak about Rodwell William’s delicate surgeries
Attorney Rodwell Williams is clinging to life at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Florida but his condition has been stabilized. That’s the latest word coming out of Florida. On Tuesday’s newscast we gave the details of his tragic shooting of the Prime’s Minister’s law partner. The incident took place around eight on Monday night as Williams was leaving his Barrow and Williams law firm and was heading to his parked vehicle about forty yards away on Albert Street West. He was treated overnight at the Belize Healthcare Partners where doctors performed three surgeries to stop a massive hemorrhage and repair portions of his lower intestine that had been ruptured by the bullet. He was flown to the Miami hospital where doctors completed a fourth surgery on him shortly after four this morning. The team of doctors met today with TV reporters to give a detailed report of the extent of the wound and how they treated it. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.
Marion Ali, Reporting
While the report since the shooting has been that the victim, Rodwell Williams, is in critical condition, we never really knew just how critical he was when he was rushed to the emergency room at Belize Health Care Partners on Monday night. But today the team of five doctors who performed three surgeries on him before he was dispatched to the US explained to the media that Williams was very close to death.
Doctor Emerson Munguia, General Surgeon, K.H.M.H
emerson munguia
“When we opened the abdomen we find about four litres of blood insid,he have severe bleeding , practically the patient was exsanguinated. For thirty minutes almost the blood pressure was zero, zero and the saturation of oxygen in his blood was zero too. So we try to transfuse a lot of unit of blood and we resuscitate him; and then we did an operation, a quick operation, we call damage control surgery. Practically he had about ten injuries to the small bowel, one of the main vein that go to the heart, the Cavas vein was affected too and several arteries that take the blood flow to the intestine too. We repaired everything. And then we packed, we did abdominal packing to this kind of injury. This kind of injury we cannot do in one time. This kind of patient need to get two, three or four surgeries because if we try to repair all the damage in the same time ;the patient will not be able to survive. This patient was very close, near to die.”
Doctor Emerson Munguia says that most of the patients that suffer this type of injury do not reach the emergency room alive and that Williams’ was one of the worst they had ever dealt with in several years.
Dr. Emerson Munguia
“The total bleeding of him was about ten litres. Practically, we have only about four or five litres inside our body, but he lost two the blood in his body. So, we have to replace about twenty part cells and different plasma, about ten plasma to keep the blood pressure of his body; but this is a case that was devastated. This kind of patient, we deal everyday at K.H.M.H. Ninety-five percent of those patients survive , we have very sick patients with this kind of trauma everyday, but unfortunately this kind of injury that this person have the most severe cases we saw in Belize, in six years.
Dr. Irvin Gabourel, Endoscopy Specialist, BHPLP
irvin gabourel
“I was asked to do an endoscopy on him, which I preformed at the ICU. And we called in the surgeons to help us to identify the area because the upper G.I was filled with fresh blood and clots, so it was very difficult for us to really source the precise spot where the bleeding was coming from. And we decided there and then that the patient, that’s where the third surgery comes in, to identify that area because definitely his vital signs, his pressure. He couldn’t keep a pressure.
Using a rough drawing, Dr Emerson Munguia explained to us the severity of the wound once the bullet entered and travelled through Williams’ body.
Dr. Emerson Munguia
“This arrow here shows the entrance of the bullet and immediately the bullet make damage to the junction duodenum and this area of the small intestine we call the juno. In that area they have a lot of arteries that come from another artery, what we call mesenteric arteries that bring the blood flow to all the intestine. And then he get damage right here, a lot of severe arteries there, and then it make a lot of damage to different segments of the small bowels. And then when pass the bullet by this area it make damage to this big vein ,that brings the blood flow directly to the right side of the heart. This is what we call Cavas vein, Vena Cava, when you have this kind of injury the patient will die in two or three minutes sometimes.”
Finally the bullet cross the main vein that go to the heart, we call Vena Cava, that’s affect to have a severe, severe bleeding. I find the bullet.”
Marion Ali
“Where was is lodged?”
Dr. Emerson Munguia
“Like a thirty-eight. Right there by the left , the right side, very close from the right kidney.”
Dr. Pedro Arriaga, Internist, K.H.M.H./BHPL
pedro arriaga
“When we see patients with this kind of conditions, we do not think about the possibility for what’s gonna happen for the future, it’s what happen right now. And then we know, that if we work fast, as fast as possible the person have more chance survival. Luckily, we were able to work fast and our team was ready that’s the reason why he survived.”
But while Williams survived, he is still critically wounded and hanging onto life.
Dr. Jorge Hidalgo
“That’s his particular case. He came with a type of lesion that has a very high mortality, even with all the effort and even that’s he more stable and he has more chances. His condition is still very critical. When we do this amount of transfusion and also with this, with the shock that he came with that main organs. We expected that can be damaged. One of these organs, this very important organs are the kidneys, that can be affected for this profound status of shock. And also with multiple transfusions we usually expect also certain complications with the lungs. That’s the things that they are probably going to face going to face over there.”
Williams remains in the Intensive Care Unit at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Florida and his condition is listed as critical but stable. Marion Ali for News Five.
Several residents told News Five that immediately after they heard the shot and looked outside they saw two youths fleeing the crime scene. Police apprehended two persons, but up to news time no charges had been brought.
As one Doctor said , Prayer and Prayer and More Prayer , People God Hears and He Answers ,trust Him !!!
Proud of our doctors, good work keep it up!!! as long as its an innocent life work hard to save lives please!!!!
good job doctors but this is going to continue until the people of belize demand the hanging penalty be brought back for people commiting murder or attempted murder and 20yrs in jail for anyone with an unlawful gun the pm has dont nothing to curb this situation he is not a leader he cannot lead in fact he might be next maybe then he will wake up.
Thank God for the excellent team of doctors ! Belize is proud of them . They worked to the best of their abilities under extreme pressure.-they deserve PLATINUM MEDALS !!
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him ; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
Psalm 91:15
Look at them… making a big deal over one guy got shot… but why, just couse he knows the minister, cause he has money, while all those poor peaple dying every day… they don’t care.. minister calls this the worst crime……what is he crazy… how about them poor people getting chop in the head, shot and stab many times, ohhh that is not worst….. well take this as a wake up call,
Politician dont give a damm bout poor ppl………we done know the buisness………..to them we dah the slums of Belize……But poor ppl done know that the politicians are the real dirthbags…..Fi they day the come……..
Job well done.
JIMMY I AGREE WITH YOU. JUST CAUSE HE HAS A HIGH PAYING JOB AND HAS MONEY THEY MAKING A BIG DEAL OUT OF IT, HOW BOUT THEY START TAKING THESE SAME KIND OF IMPORTANCE IN ALL THE CASES OF MURDERS IN BELIZE.
Very sad tradegy, I hope this will open the eyes of Dean Barrow, to reform and enforce our laws the way it ought to be. Sadly also, Williams had to be a victim of such crime, but also it kinda open up the government eyes; not necessarily one of there own, but one similar. I bet they will get a little strict now. Dean Barrow, kindly remember crimes are not committed solely against poor people, others are at risk everyday, and sadly our “freedom” lies in your hands. Even though I’m disappointed, I haven’t entirely gave up on you, prove us wrong.
OMG I come on here on a regular basis and always see people getting shot, stabbed or something else but yet they die. This man got shot how many times???? and made it out alive. I mean I am happy for him and his family and a job well done to the doctors, but this just comes to show, SICK PEOPLE CAN NOT AFFORD TO GET SICK, OR SHOT, BECAUSE YOU WILL DEFINITELY DIE. RICH FOLKS WELL WE ALL KNOW ^^^^^^^^^^^. A MANS LIFE SHOULD NOT BE EXPENDABLE JUST BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH MONEY THEY MAKE OR WHO THEY KNOW, BUT THIS IS THE WAY OF LIFE IN BELIZE, AND ELSE WHERE IN THE WORLD, WITH EXCEPTION ON CANADA AND SPAIN.
First and foremost we thank Allah the one and only, most merciful, most gracious for granting the Doctors the knowledge and practice wisdom for their successful efforts in aiding and treating Mr. Williams for the inhumane attack and evil attempt that was made on his life. We pray that the most gracious, most merciful will grant him total and speedy recovery from his wounds. Unfortunately and very sadly so, we must agree with Jimmy, everyone is making a big issue over this unfortunate situation, while the many faceless, nameless Belizeans continues to grieve and suffer from the ugly, sad and evil conditions of liiving in a society riddled with crime and injustices. Unfortunately, the chicken has come home to roost. This is and should be a wake up call for all of the populace of Belize. It is time for a serious look at the current leadership and possible changing of the guards in Belize .Imagine the possibilities.
Poverty is a state of mind…stop whining about poor people, they need to get their butts somewhere to fight for what they want and need to get money in a legitimate way. Stop hating on the rich people, kaz altho some of them might be crooked others are not, others have kaz they have earned it.
WONDERFUL DOCTORS! Belize is moving Forward! love theM!
Kudos to the the doctors but we need this kind of action for all law abiding citizens not just the Prime Minister’s law partner. I hope Mr. Barrow will get the sense now. Weh good fu di goose good fi di gander.
In the Docotr’s defense they treat ALL emergencies with the same frevor and passion as they did this one. Blame the media for caring more about the details of a Lawyer and not the poor man on the street. If they asked, the Docs would be happy to give this explanation about any patient. He was a regular balck man who entered the emergency room. At that ime no questions are asked….no one knows if u are rich or poor at that moment. Blame the media who care more about these cases – not the Doctors and friends of the patient!
It is so sad that we as people lose the whole concept about human lives, rather than saving someone,we make it into an issue about having money or who you are as a person.Mr Williams has served his time and was giving his time to the belizean people.IS IT SO WRONG TO BE A SUCCESSFUL BELIZEAN.In the entire world being rich or poor have its advantage an disavantage n we as belizeans coming from a third world Country no damn well what struggles are all about,n our parents working hard to make us successful.Come on Belizeans lets be positive an try to be constructive in helping to come together in trying to make a difference to get controll of our Country.
This is my first time ever commenting on a message board but I just want to thank all doctors for the work that they put into saving his life. I am Mr. Williams oldest daughter we do not have a close relationship. I am appreciative that he is still with me as well as others he is loved by. This is a wake up call for everyone not to take life for granted and that I still have the opportunity to tell my dad I love him, always have and always will.
FYI ..Mr.belizean boy rodwell was not a politician he was an attorney..so to hell with you and your stupid …..you dont give a damm about nobody…thank you doctors for yur fantastic job!!!!
Why not also thank Said Musa for keeping Belize Health Care Partners open. If he neva bail them out maybe the prime minister woulda d prepare the Eulogy for his law partner. Maybe da the prime minister deh mi the try get. You know this world funny, especially when politician are around. Dean Barrow mi the mek wa big fuss affa the millions weh Musa use fu help this hospital. Musa neva mi d think about just one set a people; obviously he was trying to help our beloved nation.
PM please stop pretending that this crime situation noh the affect you, you see it hits your door, even with the Jaguar Patrol.
I wish everybody living in Belize were Garinagu, you don’t hear about them killing people. they just show love.
Anyway, I am proud of Ms Tillet your dad deserve the cleanliness of your good heart. Doctors, keep up the good work!
God, I pary that you guide our Belizean Citizens in the right direction and our leaders to care more.
My sweet Belize every day I pray that it will get back to the days when murders was almost non-existence.
Nuff respect to the doctors who saved the life of brother William. Wish they would work as deligently and without bias to save the lives of all their patients, poor or rich. Money doesn’t make the man. We are all GOD’S children. We all breath the same air. Know thy self my Belizean people. Knowledge is the KEY. Knowledge is power. Elevate your self. Until then…We need to live in peace or we will be resting in peace.
the doctors did as much as they could and that is something belizeans are to be proud of. I bet if it was one of us or one of our family members we would be eating sandwich and drinking coffee because barrow nor willams would give a rats a$$ if we are alive or not. PM taking his vacations spending the belizeans tax money in the US right now. Belizeans let remind all the poeple that the PM along with his administration that they are the puppets and we pull the string so they have to do as we say and what we want. they work for us and out of our got damn tax money they can buy a tortilla to eat. ITS time for a change let get rid of HAAD TIMES!