Father says decision to pull plug on daughter was ‘an agonising one’
Family took 2 days to decide to take daughter off life support, says dad
MAKING a medical decision involving the life and death of a loved one is a complex and tough matter for any family.
This was the issue that confronted the family of 7-year-old Alicesa Lorenna Nody, the third victim to die from the deadly rabies virus in the Serian district.
“It was the hardest decision that we had to make,” said Alicesa’s father, Nody Jaon, at his in-law’s house in Kampung Stutong Baru here yesterday.
Alicesa succumbed to “rabies encephalomyelitis” (inflammation of the brain due to acute virus infection) after being admitted to Sarawak General Hospital’s paediatric intensive care unit for more than two weeks.
She was pronounced dead after the family consented to the hospital withdrawing her life support at 2.16pm on Thursday.
Nody, who appeared calm during the interview, said the family took two days to discuss Alicesa’s condition before coming to the difficult decision.
“The doctor had performed several tests and procedures on my daughter, including checking her eyes and ears, but there was no response.
“Perhaps, my daughter is already in heaven.
“Together with the family, we discussed whether to continue placing Alicesa on life support.
“Like all fathers, I love my daughter so much and, of course, I wanted her to live.
“At the same time, there was no other option, and I wanted her to rest in peace,” said Nody, adding that the burial for his daughter would be held in Siburan today.
On when his daughter was bitten by a dog, Nody said his daughter and her friends had just returned home after taking a dip in a river near their village.
On her way home, Nody said Alicesa was chased and bitten by a pet dog belonging to the village chief in May.
“The dog broke free of the chain tied around its neck and attacked my daughter. She was bitten on the right thigh and waist.
“The village chief informed us about the incident and we immediately took my daughter for treatment,” said Nody, adding that his daughter received six stitches for her injuries.
Nody said Alicesa was recovering and showed no sign of illness until the end of last month.
He said his daughter started suffering from delirium when she was down with fever.
“We rushed her to the hospital and were shocked to learn that she had contracted rabies when the lab report came,” he said, adding that the family had done their best to treat Alicesa.
Four confirmed cases have been recorded since the virus outbreak last month.
The virus has since taken the lives of two siblings, Jackson Maslan, 4, and his 6-year-old sister, Monica, from Kampung Paon Rimu. They died on July 4.
The fourth victim, a 5-year-old girl from Kampung Ampungan, is in critical condition at Sarawak General Hospital.