By Elesha George
Seventeen-year-old Jahhym Azoo – who barely survived a violent mugging in Grays Farm on Thursday September 5th 2019 – is said to be slowly recovering.
His mother, Odiel Furlong, has reportedly been told by nurses at the Mount St. John’s Medical Centre (MSJMC) that her son is responsive. According to Furlong, though, she has not yet spoken with her son who is mostly asleep.
At the time of this publication, she was reportedly attempting to speak with her son’s doctors to determine whether any of his internal head injuries could produce long-term negative effects.
On Tuesday, doctors removed Azoo’s bandages, revealing the 19 staples that had been affixed to his head by specialist doctors from Trinidad and Tobago when they attempted life-saving surgery over the weekend.
Last Sunday morning, doctors operated on his head and were able to successfully control the bleeding in Azoo’s brain. The 17-year-old then underwent another surgery in an attempt to repair severe damage to his face. According to his mother, the entire bottom row of her son’s teeth were knocked out. Some of the teeth were discovered inside his nose. Azoo’s nose and jaws also had to be held in place by wire during facial surgery.
The family of Azoo has already been given a hospital bill of $29,731.48, reflective of medical care from the day he was admitted to MSJMC to Monday September 9th 2019. Furlong told OBSERVER the family anticipates more expenses as he remains at the hospital.
When the 17-year-old was taken to the MSJMC, he was reported to be unresponsive and was placed on life support in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Doctors had given him a 50 percent chance of survival due to the bleeding on his brain.
Meanwhile, police public relations officer Frankie Thomas said the incident further illustrates the need for conflict resolution among people, particularly the young.
On Tuesday he told OBSERVER “it is a matter that the police have taken seriously and the investigations continue.”
It is still not clear exactly how many people were involved or how many have been questioned by the police in relation to the assault.
Azoo’s is one of numerous robberies that have drawn the attention of law enforcement, as well as that of Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who is expected to hold a National Security meeting on the matter this week.