Shaniya Persaud, the seven-year-old girl who sustained second and third degree burns to 98 percent of her body when she walked out of her family’s burning Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home earlier this month, has undergone multiple surgeries.
In fact, non-governmental organization, Saving Hands Emergency Aid (SHEA), said that all the surgeries have been successful and the little girl is recovering well. All her body parts, including fingers and toes, have been saved.
Shaniya can also see, speak and move on her own. However, she has scars from the fire throughout her body. The seven-year-old will continue with her treatment at the Shriners Hospital in Galveston, Texas. The treatment is being provided by the hospital at no cost.
The Rotary Club of Demerara and SHEA managed to raise US$42,000 to medevac Shaniya to the US for all her treatment.
On August 04, last, the little girl was sleeping in her Mon Repos’ home when it went up in flames at around 01:00 hr. Her two older brothers managed to escape unhurt but she was left sleeping in the burning building.
At the time of the fire, the child’s father, a fisherman, was working at sea while her mother, a domestic worker, was said to be helping out at a wedding house in the village.
Guyana Standard has been informed that the little girl told neighbours that she was sleeping when she felt a burning sensation on her feet and then saw bright flames around her. She said that she could not see anything but fire so she closed her eyes and walked towards the area where she knew their door was located.
Neighbours rushed her to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where she was hospitalized for several days until she had to be transported to the hospital in Texas.
