Bartica Electrician Walks Again After Near Leg Amputation

Bartica Electrician Walks Again After Near Leg Amputation

Picture of Michel Outridge

– CHW Pretty Debideen Hailed as ‘Guardian Angel’ for Life-Saving Intervention

Guyana Chronicle Report By Michel Outridge . When all hope seemed lost, electrician James Thomas refused to give up. Determined not to become an amputee, he sought a second opinion and trusted the process, with his faith in God never wavering. Today, that faith and patience have paid off. He has regained the use of his legs and returned to full mobility.

Thomas, a diabetic and well-known electrician in Bartica, sustained a serious injury while installing a solar panel on the roof of a building. On that hot day, after completing his task, he removed his sandals to prevent slipping on the zinc roofing. Barefoot, he attempted to descend, but the intense heat severely burned his feet, down to the bone.

Hospitalized due to his diabetic condition, Thomas was informed that his leg had become septic and would need to be amputated. Devastated and unwilling to accept this fate, he discharged himself from the hospital and returned home.

While attending a funeral at Caria Caria on the mainland of the Essequibo River, Thomas’s wife, Jacqueline, mentioned her husband’s condition to acquaintances who advised her to contact the Community Health Worker (CHW) at the Fort Island Health Post.

Taking their advice, Mrs. Thomas wrapped her husband in a blanket and brought him aboard a boat traveling the Bartica/Fort Island and Parika route to CHW Pretty Debideen.

Upon examining Thomas’s feet, Debideen discovered a bone fragment had flaked off and embedded in the flesh, causing the infection and discoloration. She made an incision to remove the fragment, immediately alleviating some of Thomas’s discomfort.

After this, he began visiting Fort Island every other day for dressings and treatment. However, due to high travel costs, he struggled to maintain the schedule. In an extraordinary act of compassion, CHW Debideen opened her home to Thomas, allowing him to stay for ten days during which his wounds were treated daily.

Slowly, he regained mobility, was able to wear shoes again, and eventually returned home. Thomas remains deeply grateful to Debideen for her care and kindness during this terrifying time.

“I feel really blessed to regain the full use of both legs. Being able to wear shoes again feels so good. Now that I’m fully healed, I’m more conscious of my diabetic condition,” Thomas shared.

The bond between the Thomas family and the Debideens has grown stronger over the years. They continue to visit one another, maintaining a friendship built during a time of crisis.

Mrs. Jacqueline Thomas, 62, expressed heartfelt thanks to Debideen for her outstanding care during a period when it felt like all options had been exhausted. “It goes to show that miracles can happen when you least expect them. God’s mercy was upon us, and we’re thankful for it,” she said.

Originally from Saxacalli, Essequibo River, Mrs. Thomas moved to Bartica to attend secondary school. A retired pensioner, she worked her way up from stores clerk to storekeeper and finally to Administrative Assistant at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) office in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) before retiring in 2017.

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