Nine-day-old Messiah Criss had his left arm broken during birth last week Friday at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital (PoSGH). His parents Kossi Criss, 30 and mother, Onella Phillip, 22, have since requested a medical report with an official explanation as to how his arm broke. But they claim that all they have so far gotten from hospital staff is a “run-around.”
Born at 12.15 pm and weighing in at 3.57 kilogrammes, baby Messiah is Phillip’s second child. Speaking with the T&T Guardian yesterday, Phillip said she suffered no complications, which allowed her to give birth naturally. She, however, noted that she was too weak to push the baby out during the actual delivery procedure.
“My sugar reading was high a few days before. I went in the hospital on Wednesday and they kept me overnight. Thursday they discharged me and gave me a date to come back to cut the water bag, however, on Friday morning at about 6 am my water bag burst,” Phillip said.
“By the time I got to the hospital they sent me up to Labour Ward immediately. There were three midwives with me in the delivery room. I was too weak to push but one of the midwives held my head and encouraged me to keep pushing. The baby’s head was out but became stuck. Two doctors were brought in to assist,” she said.
Phillip said after the baby was delivered and cleaned up, the doctors told her that something was wrong with one of the baby’s arms and that they were taking him downstairs. “I was too weak and tired to ask anything else. The doctors then left with my baby.” Phillip’s common-law-husband, Kossi Criss said he went to hospital at about 5 pm and saw his baby for the first time but noticed that one of the baby’s arm was swollen. He said he questioned a doctor but was referred to another doctor for an explanation.
“When I looked at the baby I saw his arm swollen and red like a balloon. I was eventually told that the baby’s hand was fractured and shown an x-ray. I left at 7 pm and the baby’s arm was not in any cast. However, later that night when they took the baby up to the ward for his mother, a cast was on. But, apparently the cast was not put on properly because it kept slipping out,” Criss said.
Criss said after he was told about the fracture he immediately asked for a medical report with full explanation. But up to yesterday, no report was given to him, neither the baby’s mother. “It’s only runaround I getting for that report. Friday they told me Saturday. Saturday they told me Sunday. Sunday they told me Monday and when Monday reach they said Tuesday.
“I went to Medical Records for the report on Tuesday morning and said they were doing up the report. Then I was told that I could not get the report, that it had to be the baby’s mother. So I went home and told her and she went that same day to collect the report but when she got there she was told that the lady who was doing the report left for the day. Up to now we can’t get the report neither an explanation and all we want is that,” Criss said.
Phillip said she was given liquid Panadol to administer to baby Messiah for pain and fever. “I know he is in pain because he cries constantly, especially at nights.”
Baby Messiah’s grandfather, Damien Criss said that although the baby is his fifth grandchild, it is his first grandson and that he would like to get the best medical care for him, “All I want to know is that the baby’s arm will be treated and cared for so it could heal properly and they wouldn’t have to break back his arm for the healing process to start all over again.”
An official at the PoSGH, who wished not to be identified told the T&T Guardian that broken bones and fractures can occur during childbirth when the process gets difficult, “when the baby becomes stuck in the vaginal passageway and doctors struggle to get the baby loose.” He, however, assured that all will be done by the PoSGH to ensure that the baby’s broken arm is well mended.
On Thursday, Criss sought help from Ian Alleyne, host of CNC’s Crime Watch. Criss’ situation was highlighted on the prime time show.