News

Accident survivor yet to make full recovery

contributed - Marlene McLean-Jenkins

By FRANCINE BLACK, Staff Reporter

THE SURVIVOR OF the car accident which killed six people in Kent Village on Monday December 21, 2004 continues to recover in hospital but doctors are not yet sure if she will make a full recovery.

Marlene McLean-Jenkins, 42, has been hospitalised for more than two weeks and although she has regained consciousness and is talking, her memory has not fully returned.

"She coming around but she cannot remember what happen to her," Ruddy Jenkins, her husband told THE STAR.

Norman McLean her son, said when he visits her, she sometimes complains of being unable to differentiate who she is talking to, saying there are too many persons and she does not know them differently. Norman was shocked to hear that his mother was in an accident because he had seen her the night before and they had discussed having Christmas dinner together.

Mr. Jenkins too was shocked to hear of the accident, and despite seeing the mangled remains of the car and hearing about the many deaths, he believed his wife would survive. "I got a call around four o'clock by someone who saw the accident. I call her phone and I don't get any answer. I call the driver phone no answer, so I went out there," he said. "I saw the car mash up with four people in there. When I reach and they say they took out one person, I was relieved and I saw her handbag so I know she would make it."

Mrs. McLean-Jenkins, who is from Rose Hall District in Linstead, St. Catherine, suffered a broken leg and injuries to her head, the extent of which are still being determined by the doctors. The family say it has been difficult for them to cope, as they are still trying come to terms with her injuries. "Her mother took it very hard," Mr. Jenkins said.

He added that the two were close and his wife had assumed the responsibility of caring for her and two of her brother's children before the accident. But with her now in hospital, other family members have been assisting him with caring for them.

It seemed questions of his wife stirred up happy memories for Mr. Jenkins. As he skipped through a paper folder to find a photo to give THE STAR, he paused as he came upon one of his wife's certificates. He stared on the paper, smiling as he ran his fingers across it.

In the meantime, the family continues to hope that their 'loving and caring' family member will heal and return home soon.