Former patient thanks hospital staff for saving her life

A former patient of the sometimes embattled Spanish Town Hospital says that while she is well aware of the horror stories associated with the health facility, she is sending heartfelt thanks to the staff who assisted in saving her life in May 2022.

Rea Pyne told THE STAR that the care she received after massive blood loss associated with uterine fibroids surgery, was exceptional, and this has prompted her to establish the Rea Pyne Foundation.

"I will never forget the staff at Spanish Town as they not only saved my life but treated me extremely well. If I were to say I had a bad experience there during my stay, I would be lying. There are a lot of bad stories about public hospitals but I believe the good experiences should be highlighted just as well. Earlier this month, I returned there, and through my foundation, was able to donate essential items such as sanitary napkins, [and] adult diapers," she said.

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumours that grow in and around the womb. Pyne's period started when she was in sixth grade, but it was while boarding at Manning's School in 2018 that she started suffering from severe pelvic pain and heavy bleeding. When over-the-counter medications failed to ease the pain, Pyne developed anaemia, along with dizziness during her periods. She returned home to Clarendon, where a doctor's visit and ultrasound revealed that she had uterine fibroids. So terrible were the pains and bleeding that surgery was recommended. But the recovery was far from smooth.

"After the surgery, I was placed on the ward and I started to bleed profusely. I also had a lot of blood clots. I had a urine bag attached, and the force of the blood and the clots pushed it out. I thought I was going to die because I soaked the entire bed. I think they had to throw away the bed because of how bad the bleeding was. I was scared," she said.

Pyne said she laid helpless and thoughts of death weighed heavily on her mind. But she said the nurses and doctors went into prayer mode.

"The right medical team was there and they were just speaking life into my body. They held my hand and they prayed dearly for me. There were nurses checking my pressure and praying their hearts out. Believe it or not, even the porter was there just speaking life into my body. Everyone came on board and they cleaned me off and they were contemplating if they had to go back inside me and take out my womb. But they really didn't want to because they said I was young and didn't have any children," she said.

Pyne said that every time she fell asleep, a doctor came to check on her and ask if she was okay.

"It was the first time I was being admitted and I was afraid and started to cry. Everyone knows I am a cry baby but the staff was so patient and loving with me. I remember one doctor just telling me that I am not going to die," Pyne added.

Pyne said she is also sending sympathy to out-patients and loved ones of those whose experiences are the opposite of hers.

"I understand that there are good and bad people anywhere you go. But when others say their experience wasn't good, I have to ask myself if we went to the same hospital. I know there are some who just don't business at all, but I had a good team and I just want to say thank you," she said.