Tonight, three persons remain in critical condition after the very serious accident last Friday involving the basketball team from Ocean Academy in Caye Caulker.
Ocean Academy today gave an update on those cases: 18 year old Alexander Bainton is intubated in a coma with head trauma and is described in an extremely critical condition.
17 year old Gilbert Teck is intubated in an induced coma in the ICU. He received a CT scan yesterday. They are hoping he will stabilize - and once stabilized, "doctors plan to reverse his medically-induced coma and begin treatment on his spinal injury and broken femur. He will need to be transported out of Belize for spinal surgery."
Teacher Zane Zuniga's spine is "damaged causing paralysis." The school reports that the "damage includes the area that affects his ability to breathe." So, he needs surgery to repair his spine to save his life and that surgery is not available in Belize.
So, they are trying to organize an airlift to fly him to Guatemala.
The accident and its traumatic postscript have had a devastating effect on the close knit island community and we spoke to the Chairlady via Zoom this evening:
Seleny Villanueva Pott, Chairlady, Caye Caulker
"The news is that they're still critical. Ocean Academy posted an update on their page this morning, you know, and we really are just asking for prayers for these young men. All we're really asking for is consideration and prayers at this time."
"It's a very, very difficult time for teachers, students, and everybody who's trying to pool efforts together to to pay bills because the bills are are are mounting. Medical bills are are not cheap in Belize and nowhere."
"So we're just trying to pool efforts together."
Jules Vasquez
"What is the the greatest need right now and how can people viewing or listening, how can they help?"
Seleny Villanueva Pott, Chairlady, Caye Caulker
"To airlift - The hope is to have Mr. Zuniga, who's the teacher, airlifted at least by tomorrow and the cost of that, I believe they said was 20 or 25 thousand dollars. I cannot remember the exact figure, but we're asking for all all possible financial donations. It really is a nightmare for us, for the students who have had a blowout. We are still struggling to come together."
"This year has been hard hit. We've, from the beginning of the year, we've had a fire and it's been like one unimaginable event to the next, but we're surviving. I believe we're finding a we're finding more of a community spirit and that's the bottom line that we are we are there for each other."
"A lot of these students will are suffering from from trauma. A lot of them are traumatized. I cannot, you know, talking to some of the teachers, I myself, you know, get emotional having to talk to these parents, you know, because we know them."
"The first thing you think of is that could have been your child."
The cost of airlifting and doing surgery on teacher Zane Zuniga is expected to cost upwards of 75 thousand dollars. His family and Ocean Academy are asking for support. Here's how you can help to make this life-saving treatment possible.
CONTRIBUTIONS CAN BE MADE TO:
Atlantic Bank in Belize:
Account Number #100299151
in the name of OCEAN ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL
Label deposits or transfers as "Medical Assistance".
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