Veteran radio personality and Helen Television System (HTS) news anchor Andre Paul, returned to the air today (Monday) after about two months on sick leave. He addressed his absence on the ‘Out Goes In’ program and advised Saint Lucians to learn from his ordeal. Paul indicated that in late April while anchoring HTS’s Friday night telecast, he felt feverish but brushed it off. By the next day he had developed a belly ache and was unable to eat.
He recalled being hopeful that he could return to work that Monday but the pain persisted. “I couldn’t eat anything,” said Paul. “So it got to the point now where I said let me just have some tea. So I had some ginger tea there; I took the ginger tea and surprise surprise, I vomited. Now that was really strange because I hadn’t vomited since I was about nine years old, I just don’t vomit. So that day when I vomited I knew something was wrong.”
Later that day he attempted to have some soup— that too was rejected by his body. Despite this Paul remained hopeful of returning to work. However, the pain did not let up and as a last resort he visited his doctor, and thereafter the hospital. “Somebody may say ‘Andre why did you take so long?’ It’s just me, my modus operandi. I always think that my body can handle it. I’m thinking if I don’t go to work what’s going to happen. Sorry folks, that’s just me, I come from that era,” said Paul.
The anchor was initially told that it may be a case of gastroenteritis and was advised to do an X-ray, which revealed a distended stomach. He returned to the hospital where, “The doctor said to me ‘Andre, there’s something blocking your intestine.’ And this was the scary part when he said to me ‘I don’t want to scare you but people generally your age, it’s probably a tumor.’ And that’s when I got really scared,” said Paul. He was informed that surgery was needed and was then sent to have a CT-scan performed. The results showed that something, suspected to be a tumor, was blocking his intestine. Worried about the future, Paul made some calls to family members.
Said the anchor: “I remember at that time, I said boy there are people who go into surgery and never come back. So I was thinking maybe that might be my situation… At the end of the day I just said to the Father, well Lord, I tried my best and remember me. Because in my mind when I go inside there I may not come out.”
The surgery was completed in about three hours without any complications. Paul said he was relieved afterwards when he learnt that it was really not a tumor but gangrenous appendix — which had caused his intestines to become almost three times the normal size. At that point, he said, the journey to get back on his feet began. He remained at the hospital for about a week post surgery and was then discharged. Paul thanked the medical team including Dr. Nola Rene, Dr. Jason Tobierre, Dr. Merlan Edwards and Dr. Arlette Charles, as well as members of the Cuban medical brigade. He thanked everyone who supported him during this time and commended Kolbe Devaux who anchored HTS’s news in his absence.
“So I’m on the mend. I still have a little pain where the wound is but I’m able to do my walking, which I did on the weekend. And do my little exercise,” said Paul. He urged Saint Luicans to seek medical care at the earliest possible time when sick: “Don’t act like me in that sense…I would advise those of use who don’t feel right; things are changing in our body, don’t wait that long, go check it out.” He also pleaded with citizens, especially the self-employed, to register with the National Insurance Corporation in the event of medical emergencies.
