“Why isn’t mummy here?”
This is a question that often comes from the tiny lips of four-year-old Danielle Ramsoomair.
To this, Lorne Ramsoomair, her father, often replies to Danielle and her two older siblings — Christian, nine, and Sarah, five — saying: “Mummy is in Heaven and will always be there watching over us.”
Little Danielle has never known her mummy, Crystal Boodoo-Ramsoomair, as she died after giving birth to her via a C-section at the San Fernando General Hospital on March 4, 2011.
Speaking with the T&T Guardian at his Couva home, Ramsoomair said the story about 24-year-old Keisha Ayers, who died days after a C-section, brought back bad memories for him.
“This is just awful. It is very sad,” Ramsoomair said.
Reliving his experience of four years ago, he became emotional and with tear-filled eyes said: “Crystal and I have been together since in our teens. She was and still is my first and only love.
“When this happened to her my entire life crumbled. To lose a lifetime companion is not easy. She was the perfect wife and mother. My children — Christian and Sarah — have very fond memories of their mother and would cry for her at times.
“I still do, after four years. Every night after the kids have gone to bed, I would cry...I have to show that I am strong for them.”
Being a single-parent for Ramsoomair is not a bed of roses. He said being a father with a motherly role had taught him a lot over the years, since it is more than just feeding his children, nurturing them and making sure they attended school.
“It is making sure that they are grown up with values and respect. Making sure that I take them to church and emotionally being there for them,” he added.
Reaching out to Ayers’ common-law-husband, Juma Charles, Ramsoomair advised him to trust in God.
“Pray and trust God. He is the one to take away the pain and help you through this. The pain doesn’t go on your own but with time it eases and you will be better able to cope.”
Ramsoomair also shared a message to others who have been in his position and who will unfortunately have to go through what he went through four years ago.
“This is not politics but every Trinidadian should stand up for all the wrong things. Do not be afraid to take action. Maybe by doing this the authorities and those carrying out the works will carry out their duties carefully and with pride,” he said.
Boodoo-Ramsoomair, 29, a mother of three, died at the San Fernando General Hospital on March 4, 2011 after undergoing a C-section procedure during the birth of her third child.
Following her death, her husband, Lorne, filed a lawsuit against the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA), which operates the hospital, and the doctors who treated his wife before her death.
On November 2, 2012, the SWRHA, through its attorneys, accepted institutional liability for Ramsoomair’s death.
The authority admitted it failed to provide proper medical and ancillary services to her. As a result of the admission of negligence, a judgment was entered against the SWRHA and damages were ordered to be assessed by a master of the High Court.