Winston Murray can be proud of the immense contribution he has made to his country

Nov 15, 2010 Letters

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Dear Editor,
It is indeed a very sad day for me, as it should be for all Guyanese. A patriot, a man who has dedicated most of his adult life fighting for a better Guyana; a man who has contributed so much to his native land, and who I had hoped would be the one to breathe new life into this economy, is now fighting for his very life on a hospital bed in Georgetown.
Winston Murray is a fighter, but if he wins this one, I’m afraid he may never be the brilliant economist that he is. I do not write this without remorse, for we are all aware of my ongoing support for Winston Murray as the next PNCR Candidate to contest the General Elections schedule for 2011. Neither do I write this without the full understanding of the uphill battle to save his life.
A few years ago, my son was mugged and badly beaten by three men in New York on the evening of his 30th birthday. As he tried to defend himself, the thugs slammed his head against a steel gate fracturing his skull and breaking his jaw in the process. He was rushed by ambulance to the nearby Jamaica Hospital… reputed to be one of the best in New York for trauma cases.
My son was in a coma for over two weeks; a three inch diameter hole was cut in his scull to allow the blood to be suctioned from his brain, and also to allow the brain to swell out of the cranium. He was on life support as he could not breathe on his own; his condition looked hopeless.
I quit my job to be by my son’s bedside day and night; monitoring his condition for his mouth had to be suctioned on a regular basis, and I had to massage his legs and arms to promote circulation as he was not moving. As a New York trained and certified Emergency Medical Technician-Defibrillation, I was well aware that the odds were not in his favour for a complete recovery.
After 10 day, I too, was beginning to lose hope that my son would ever come out of the coma, and with each passing day, I was beginning to accept that I may lose my son. Then one day, a miracle happened: As I asked him to squeeze my hand if he can hear my voice, I felt a faint movement emanating from his fingers, and had his neurosurgeon by his side in the blink of an eye. Typically, the human brain can go for about three to five minutes without oxygen before irreversible brain damage begins to occur, and nine minutes is usually the point where brain death will occur and all electrical function stops.
My son was extremely lucky: He had received medical attention and was given oxygen within 10 minutes of his injuries; he was young and had no medical complication; and was taken to a well equipped facility with one of the best neurosurgeons in the world. After a short stint of therapy, my son is now fully recovered with a custom-made plastic plate attached to his skull to cover the hole.
Sadly, Winston Murray is not as fortunate: At age 69, Murray is a diabetic, has high blood pressure and has developed arrhythmia (irregular heart beat). Surgery to suction the blood from his brain and to alleviate the swelling is dangerous and highly risky under these conditions.
Every day that passes without being able to suction the blood from his brain, will result in brain damage. The cranium is hard and has no elasticity; there is no space inside to accommodate a swelling brain or severe hemorrhaging, and Guyana does not have high-tech facilities and specialists to inspire hope.
I would rather not be writing this, but Guyanese and specifically Winston Murray’s family, friends and supporters need to be told the truth, and be prepared for the worst.
I am confident that the PNCR will elect a Presidential Candidate who can lead the Party to victory at the polls next year, and I pledge my full support for whoever emerges victorious; hopefully retired Brigadier David Granger.
Even if Winston Murray makes a full and complete recovery, it is unlikely that he will be fit enough to withstand the rigours of a Presidential campaign and the highly demanding and energetic job of running a country. There will always be a need for his expertise in a new administration, but now, the job of President will simply be too much for him. Winston Murray can be very proud of the immense contribution he has made to his country, and God knows he deserved the Cacique Crown of Honour he received in 1984. Winston Murray should now seriously consider living out his golden years with family and friends, and taking care of his health. He has done enough, and has nothing to prove to anyone.
I take this opportunity to thank President Bharrat Jagdeo and Prime Minister Sam Hinds, for pledging the resources of the Government of Guyana to ensure that Winston Murray gets the best possible medical care. I also wish to thank the doctors and medical staff responsible for providing his care.
I am praying for Winston’s recovery, and I know many others are doing the same. With God’s help… he’s pull through this!
Harry Gill

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