Injured 16-yr-old determined to pursue dream – wants to become a paediatrician
DESPITE being hospitalised for months after she was shot in the face with a flare gun on May 14, 2014, the spritely Brittainy London is enthusiastic about sitting the upcoming Caribbean Examination Council (CSEC) exam this year and she intends to excel.Her goal is to become a paediatrician and she has set her mind to achieve that through study and hard work.
The road to recovery has been a long and painful one, and the experience she said has opened her eyes to a lot, but she is focused on moving forward, since dwelling in the past will not do her any good.
This teenager was on her way home from classes when she was “accidentally” shot in the face with a flare gun by a young man, who is known to her.
Since the incident, London said that she has encountered the young man who caused her a lot of pain, but she made a personal decision and has forgiven him after he apologised saying it was not intentional.
London said, “I do not take it on even though I will never be normal again in terms of my facial features, but I know I will overcome this feeling in time and as it is I am healing.”
The 16-year-old told this publication that she is a pupil of the North Ruimveldt Secondary School and returned to school only in September, 2014, after being discharged from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on July 4, 2014.
She spent more than two and a half months in the institution, where several corrective surgeries were done to the left side of her face.
The Fifth Form student added that the incident has left her a bit sad whenever she thinks of it, because her face is somewhat disfigured, but is thinking of her future endeavours.
London said after she completes secondary school she plans to attend the University of Guyana to pursue her medical career.
She recalled that she was on her way home when, by the East La Penitence bridge, she encountered a young man fidgeting with a flare gun.
He continued fidgeting with the gun as she warned him not to point it at her, and then it went off.
She was shot to the right jaw and was rushed to the hospital by public-spirited citizens. -- (Michel Outridge)