Five-time calypso monarch Leroy “Black Stalin” Calliste continues to recovery “beautifully” at his San Fernando home, his wife Patsy Calliste has confirmed. However, doctors who treated him are unsure he’ll ever be able to sing properly again. Speaking soon after Black Stalin was released from the San Fernando General Hospital this week, his wide said, “He is doing very well and is very comfortable. He is expected to begin therapy at the San Fernando General Hospital.”
Two weeks ago, Black Stalin was struck down by an ischaemic stroke which affected both his speech and movement on the right side of his body. He was discharged on Tuesday. Now concerns are being raised about the calypsonian’s ability to sing again.
Stalin has had a distinguished 54-year career, but both the medical director at the SFGH, Dr Anand Chatoorgoon, and Stalin’s consultant physician in internal medicine Dr Joel Teelucksingh, said they are unsure whether his vocal cords will be able to sustain the rigours of performing. “The honest answer is that we can’t tell, at least in the initial stage, what would be the long-term outcome,” Teelucksingh told the T&T Guardian.
“However, we really and truly have hope, high hopes there will be an improvement.” Chatoorgoon said while he too was optimistic Stalin will recover, “it will take a long time before he could sing again.” He said he was basing this on the fact that Stalin was conscious when he was brought into the hospital, was aware of his surroundings at all times and was always able to eat and swallow. And while his speech has been affected, he never lost his speech entirely, the doctor said.
He said with physiotherapy, time and rehabilitation, Stalin will get better, but he could not say how long that will take. “What I can tell you is that he will not be able to sing like he used to, at least not for a while. We have to take into consideration things like his age—he is 73—but people do get better with time.”
Chatoorgoon drew reference to calypsonian Sparrow (Slinger Francisco), who survived a diabetic coma last September, a mere month before he gave an hour-long performance alongside Stalin at De Nu Pub, Woodbrook. Earlier this year, Sparrow was awarded the highest honour to be bestowed on any citizen, the Order of T&T.
“Sparrow is doing well and is performing again, and I am optimistic Stalin will recover with time, physiotherapy and love and support from his wife Patsy and family,” Chatoorgoon said.
Long road to recovery
Teelucksingh explained that the road to recovery will be a long one, as Stalin will have to relearn how to do basic functions. “Usually, after the management of a stroke, intense rehabilitation is of paramount importance, which includes physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy. The third being that aspect of care where you move into new things again, like to wash and dress and to eat, using the affected side.
“But you wouldn’t be able to tell, at least in the initial stage, what would be the long-term outcome.” He said calypsonians are very mobile individuals, “who have to be jamming, they have to be jumping and using their voice, so a man who was accustomed to a very lively and enthusiastic performance ... we’ll we have to wait and see.”
Teelucksingh said so far, Stalin has been responding beautifully to the physiotherapy therapy which has been instituted and medication to prevent a future stroke. “The watch word after a stroke is prevention, which includes a change in diet and lifestyle.” Stalin is a heavy smoker and suffers from hypertension. “His recovery now requires very good nursing and home care. The beautiful thing about Stalin is that he has a wonderful support structure from his family.”
Stellar career
Stalin suffered a stroke at his San Fernando home on September 21 after performing at a concert at the Couva Joylanders panyard with the Roy Cape orchestra. Stalin has captured the National Calypso Monarch crown five times, the first time in 1979 with Caribbean Man and Play One. He repeated the feat in 1985, 1987, 1991 and 1995. For his contribution to T&T culture, Stalin was awarded the Hummingbird Medal (Silver) in 1987.
The University of the West Indies, St Augustine, also conferred an honorary doctorate on him in 2008.