Parang singer Susan Maicoo recovering

Rawle Maicoo says his wife parang singer Susan Maicoo is improving after several weeks of hospitalisation.

Rawle told Newsday on February 20 Maicoo's organs are responding favourably, the level of infection has dropped and her blood count, antibodies and haemoglobin are close to normal.

“Her kidney function has improved, her liver is improving, her haemoglobin has gone up, white blood cell numbers have gone up.”

While she is not yet out of the woods, Rawle said he is optimistic about her full recovery.

He commended the staff at the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH), especially those in Medical Extension 2 for the treatment given to his wife.

“She is being treated exceptionally well. They not only care for their patients, I think they actually love their patients. One of the nurses or a ward attendant actually plaited her hair to boost her confidence.

“Her doctors have also been phenomenal, especially the medical team that is looking after her. The little things they do really put them above the rest.”

He noted while sometimes people can be frustrated by not knowing what is happening to their loved ones who are hospitalised, there has been no lack of communication from the doctors treating Maicoo.

"They update us every single day. The registrar would call and update us. This is so very important to us as a family and we really want to commend them.”

Rawle was also moved by the outpouring of love and prayers from people locally and abroad, thanking Newsday for first reporting on her condition.

“This morning (Thursday) Susan gave me a list of things she needed and on the list she had things like earrings, perfume, nail clippers – and I found that was so significant. She is ready to look good again, and I commented that she is almost back to normal.”

He also related that over the weekend, she was visited by female relatives, “who fixed her up.

"They dry-shampooed her hair, cleaned her face, did her eyebrows and other things that women do and that really perked her up. “

He said her confidence and lifted spirit moved him to believe without a doubt, “That prayers really work.”

Maicoo, 62, a retired teacher of Union Presbyterian Primary School, Siparia, was admitted to the SFGH on February 11, after she started feeling unwell. She had excruciating backaches and abdominal pain and was taken for a CT scan.

The scan showed her lungs, gallbladder, liver, intestines and kidneys were severely affected, a sign that she had sepsis – a life-threatening infection that affects the immune system and could lead to death.

She was taken to a private hospital where further tests were done, but referred to the SFGH for immediate admission to the ICU.

While the exact cause of the disease which sent her to the hospital has still not been diagnosed, Rawle said, “When you do a comparison with the CT scans, there has been an improvement to her lungs, a sign the infection is beginning to reduce.”

Maicoo is best known for her Christmas hits Trini Christmas is the Best, Where Daisy Gone and Dance, Dance, Dance.