The family of 20-year-old Chandani Ramlal, who was diagnosed earlier this year with arteriovenous malformation (AVM), is thanking the public for their support, while appealing for continued assistance as she now awaits further treatment abroad.
When CNC3 first aired her story in April, Ramlal had just been diagnosed after waking up unable to move the left side of her body. She needed four brain surgeries costing over $190,000, and her mother, Basmati Ramlal, had raised just over $100,000 and pleaded for help to save her daughter’s life.
That interview has since been shared nearly 4,000 times and generated more than 3,000 interactions online. The outpouring of support enabled Chandani to undergo a procedure at the St Clair Medical Hospital, which improved her eyesight and eased the severe headaches she once endured.
“Compared to how she was in January, her vision did improve a little. The headaches and things are less frequent than they were before,” Basmati said of her daughter’s latest condition.
However, because of the extent of the damage done originally, Chandani will never return to 100 per cent health. The family is, however, grateful for any improvement so far.
For Chandani, the recovery has been welcome but difficult.
“It’s just a lot to deal with on a daily basis and it’s taken a toll on my mental health. Because of the medication, I have to do frequent kidney function tests,” she said.
The family is now awaiting responses from hospitals overseas for her next stage of treatment, a gamma knife stereotactic radiation surgery not available in Trinidad and Tobago.
Basmati said, “We would just like to say thank you so very much to everyone who helped in whatever way—financially, through prayer or with words of encouragement. Chandani did undergo one of her procedures and it was a success, but some new developments came up and there’s no procedure here that could help her.”
Those wishing to assist can call 1-868-748-0807 or make donations to Basmati Ramlal’s Republic Bank account (Chequeing) 8000 3857 8401.
