Medical tests have shown that Secretary for Infrastructure and Public Utilities at the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Hilton Sandy has a blood clot in the left side of his brain.The disclosure was made by THA Chief Secretary Orville London yesterday.A medical report submitted to Secretary for Health Claudia Groome-Duke by the Scarborough General Hospital's Medical Chief of Staff Dr Nathaniel Duke said Sandy showed signs of a stroke affecting the right side of his body.
London said Sandy could not speak or move the right side of his body and remained in "critical but stable condition," following the stroke he suffered on September 21."Mr Sandy is awake, alert and recognising persons around him, however, he cannot speak and cannot move the right side of his body," he said."The stroke affected the left frontal and left temporal areas of his brain, which affects his speech, personality and high-level thinking."
London said a neurosurgeon at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital had been in constant contact with Sandy's doctors and while a blockage was detected in his left artery, the neurosurgeon had advised against surgery at this time."Mr Sandy is expected to receive speech therapy and is continuing to receive an international standard of care," he said.
"There is as yet no schedule for his discharge, however, the Secretary for Health and the medical staff at the hospital have been liaising with Mr Sandy's wife, Candace Chang-Sandy, relating to his care once he is released from the hospital."London, Deputy Chief Secretary Tracy Davidson-Celestine and Secretary for Education Gary Melville will alternate in dealing with issues from Sandy's constituents of Roxborough/Delaford while he recovers.