She was a woman whose life story could have become a best-seller.
But as friends and family would tell you, Maria Chepina Reyes de Aboud, who died last Sunday, was down to earth—a woman remembered by her children as advising them to always be true to themselves. She was someone lovingly remembered by friends for service and being there.
And in the final chapter—Maria’s battle with COVID-19—her legacy includes that story that may help others.
Maria was the former wife of businessman George Aboud and the mother of three boys: first born twins George Jr and Gerald and Edward.
George passed away in 2003. A native of Caracas, Venezuela, Maria, who was born in 1952, came to Trinidad at age 20 to study. Her two siblings, Tania and Jacob, still live in Venezuela.
By age 21 she was married and on her way to becoming a businesswoman.
Her Sandalias shoe boutique in Shoppes of Maraval and Ellerslie Plaza sold handmade shoes from Venezuela and other countries. And Maria embraced T&T life.
She was as well known at functions and for playing mas as she was for attending to the homeless.
“They were her friends, they’d get excited to see her car pulling up,” her family recalled.
Adventurous with a defiant spirit, Maria faced every obstacle in her way, at the same time touching the lives of those she encountered—“being there,” her family said.
In 2010, when a good friend deteriorated at their Woodbrook home and was giving up, Maria was there every day, checking to ensure they ate, appealing, coaxing her friend to sit up and wash away that negative feeling.
And walking the final road, she kept a cheerful spirit, smiling even as she was tested for COVID—not knowing her last challenge had come.
Maria was vaccinated earlier in the year and was nearing the point to receive a booster.
She didn’t go out. When she contracted COVID several weeks ago, it was moderate.
But she was later taken to hospital, then Intensive Care where she fought valiantly with the help of her children who tried everything to save her.
Her son Gerald (CEO of Starlite Group) said, “Mom was fully vaccinated and nearing her six- month booster. At the six-month mark you don’t have the protection you had at the beginning. But we tried. Dr Ackram and his Medical Associates team performed miracles trying to save her.’’
He added, “Every life is important. We must do what we can to protect ourselves and save lives. Getting that booster early might be the best protection if you’re at risk for severe disease. Data shows that without a booster you’re at higher risk for hospitalisation and death as all benefits from the vaccines wane overtime.”
“We also need to bolster our medical facilities. Early treatment options such as monoclonal antibodies (Regeneron is good against Delta) can save lives when taken before Day Six. Also, antivirals such as Remdesivir are crucial tools. Neither are available in the public health care system. Medical Associates does offer Remdesivir,” he said.
He also said: “With vaccines for high risk groups we should consider giving the vaccine with the best performance regardless of what they took before, as well as proper injection administration training to prevent inadvertent intravenous injection. ”
“We also learned that maybe not everyone should be treated in a hospital depending on their condition; and that positive outlook can make a big difference in outcome. Maybe not everyone is a candidate for hospitalisation since not having loved ones around can be traumatic.”
At Maria’s funeral on Thursday at the Church of Assumption in Maraval, sons Gerald and Edward recalled her life and how her little grandsons were her pride and her granddaughter who arrived a few weeks ago, her joy.
They recalled her excitement over a Julio Iglesias concert which Edward escorted her to.
