On Tuesday, we gave you an update on Jaheem Williams, the 17-year-old accident victim who had been fighting for his life since October 12th inside the KHMH. His condition seemed to have improved - he was awake and slightly responsive.
But since then, he rapidly deteriorated, and this morning, he went into cardiac arrest and passed away.
His death has sent his family and friends into a spiral - leaving his mother unsure of how to move on without her son. Today, Courtney Menzies spoke with her outside of the hospital and has this story.
17-year-old Jaheem Williams was a bright teenager with a love of football and a dream of being a teacher. But the endless possibilities he had before him vanished the moment the busito he was traveling in almost two months ago collided into an ambulance.
And while Jaheem held on for weeks, the sixth former passed away early this morning as his mother was trying to procure the medication that might have saved his life.
Natticia Williams, Mother of Deceased
"Day before yesterday, I came to the hospital and they told me that they found a bacteria in his lungs and he was passing it through his urine as well. So they had to put him in isolation because they're not sure if it was contagious or not. So basically they had to put him on a new antibiotic, like always, there's none so I had to do it on myself again, get the prescription, and I went to Chetumal yesterday. I went to Chetumal yesterday, I located that anti biotic at Clinica Carranza but they had to order it at Merida so I had to pay and then I had to pick it up today at 1:00. So when I got the news about Jaheem passing, I was on the bus, 6:30 this morning they called me. The bus hadn't left as yet, it was still at terminal, they call and told me he passed and I just jumped off the bus and came over here."
"Right now, it's really rough. As people watch me now and say this lady strong but I'm tearing up inside. I still in disbelief but when I went there this morning I stood there in the room with Jaheem and I watched him and Jaheem looking normal to me like everyday when I come here, that's how I used to see him so to me I was still not seeing that he's dead. Until when I see they… they wheel him out in that body bag then I can say that he's gone."
And that pain is compounded by the fact that Jaheem was just trying to get home, the same routine he did everyday. It was on the way the ambulance which was overtaking another vehicle to save someone else's life crashed into the busito he was traveling in.
And up to now, no one has been charged - so there are no fingers to point the blame. But Williams says the family is looking at taking legal action.
Natticia Williams, Mother of Deceased
"From the understanding that I had gotten when I reached out to the officer that was in charge in Corozal, he had told me that they had passed the file to I think it's the DPP and they're doing a thorough investigation before they could point fingers on who is in the wrong so they haven't come to a decision as yet. So I just have to wait until they finalize that."
"I have spoken to our families and we are trying to see if we could get some legal advisories on this situation. Jaheem, like you said, was at the right place at the wrong time so we're just, I don't know, I'm lost right now, I honestly don't know what to do or what to say right now but we're trying to see if we could get some legal help."
But even so, Williams knows that nothing can bring back her second son - the mannerly, active, helpful boy she cherished for 17 years. And his aspiration of one day passing on the knowledge he'd gain in life was so quickly dashed.
Natticia Williams, Mother of Deceased
"Jaheem was always a… he was a really respectable child, always happy, when… he… Jaheem… sorry [crying]."
"Jaheem was always happy, everybody loved Jaheem although he liked to rail up and everything, he have his bad side and he have his good side. He was all about his family and friends. He loved football. He enjoyed doing his studies and all of that was just taken away from him in on split second."
"When Jaheem graduated from high school, he said ma, I think I want to be at teacher, I said, well, Jaheem if that's what you want to do, I'm with you 100% and then he said because he's a smart boy, from he was in first form to fourth form, he was on honor roll for the four years so he said that he would like to share what he have, what he have learnt, and pass it on to other people. I watch Jaheem when he's helping his little sisters with his schoolwork, I always laugh, he said, don't think I will give him the answer, I will explain it to you and you will do it yourself. And they said, Lord Jaheem, and he said, it's only so because if your teacher ask you, you won't know how to do it because I do it for you. So yes, I know his sisters are taking it hard right now and everybody else. Everybody will remember Jaheem."
21-year-old Jorge Vargas had also passed away as a result of the accident, which happened in Ranchito Village, Corozal. No one has been charged.
