A journey into the life of an ex-soldier and medic

Aug 03, 2008 News

Her life has not quite been the same ever since she had fallen ill to what her mother believed were attacks of epilepsy, which have resulted in her being declared medically unfit in performing her job as a medic in the Guyana Defence Force. Her life has forever been changed since the year 2000.

Ex-solider and medic, thirty-eight-year-old Kay Inniss, of Queenstown village, Essequibo Coast, indulgently reminisced with this reporter her experiences working as a medic in the G.D.F, which unfortunately lasted for almost five years.

Her story began at around the year 1996, in the month of July. Kay had first joined the Guyana People’s Militia, then, later, the army, starting out as an ordinary solider. She was attached to Camp Seweyo.

A solider, though, she would remain for only two years. That was mainly because of her intellectual capabilities, which the Force saw and capitalised on.

After participating in a two-year medic course, she obtained success. Mrs. Elfrida Hercules, Kay’s mother, was present at the time of the interview with this newspaper.

She displayed a more vivid knowledge of the affairs of her daughter Kay, and shared some insights into her daughter’s professional life as a medic in the army.

Today, Kay suffers from severe depression and considerable memory loss. Her speech has also been affected. Her speech is blurry.

Kay Inniss was born in Zorg-en-Vlyght. According to Elfrida, her mom, her daughter did exceptionally well at school, but because of the unfortunate circumstances that prevailed, she was brought up in a broken home.

Financially unstable, Mrs. Hercules said that she could not have shouldered the sole responsibility of taking care of and sending her children to school after her husband had walked away from his responsibilities. Kay attended the Abram Zuil Secondary School, but dropped out in Form Four.

Kay said she had joined the army after being encouraged by a friend, whom she still remembers as Sharon, to attend a camping exercise hosted by the Guyana Defence Force.

Kay recalled that after the two-week camping event, she never returned to her home in Essequibo.

As a medic, Kay said, she enjoyed attending to her fellow injured soldiers, a task she declared that she misses.

Another activity she found brought her great delight was her many visits to different areas countrywide.

Kay said that after completing five years as a medic in the army, one sad day all of her dreams were suddenly challenged.

Miss Inniss recalled standing outside of the compound when all of a sudden she had an attack of fits (epilepsy).

Kay was later taken to a city hospital, where she was examined by a doctor. She even had a brain scan done, yet the doctor found it difficult to ascertain her complaint.

Mrs. Hercules said that after that attack of fits, her daughter was unable to walk, talk and move her limbs.

Kay was hospitalized for one year, and she spent another eight months at the Medical Arts Centre in Georgetown.

Today, Kay still speaks with a blur, and her steps are slow. She is a mother of five. Tyron, her sixteen-year-old son, lives with her.

Miss Inniss is a member of the community based rehabilitation centre, and she performs the duties of the assistant \treasurer.

A naturally quiet person, Kay describes her working life in the military in just one word: ‘nice’.

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A journey into the life of an ex-soldier and medic

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