Grief, shock as young medic dies
The death of medical intern Bilal Abayomi, whose story of overcoming the odds resonated with Jamaicans last August, has left young medics shocked and grief-stricken.
Abayomi, 22, collapsed some time after 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday while with family members at membership shopping retail chain PriceSmart, The Gleaner was told.
He was reportedly rushed to the University Hospital of the West Indies in St Andrew, where he was placed in the intensive care unit.
The young doctor was subsequently declared brain dead, a Gleaner source with knowledge of the situation said. He was officially pronounced dead early Wednesday morning.
Scores of Twitter users, including doctors and medical students, on Wednesday paid tribute to Abayomi, describing him as “an incredible individual” who touched many lives.
Abayomi, through his exploits on the social media networking platform, gained popularity among his peers.
“Thank you for everything, my friend,” a user named Megan wrote in a tweet accompanied by photos of Abayomi in happier times.
“I hope you’ve found the peace you deserve. Your selflessness, your encouraging words and your impact will never be forgotten. You fought so hard. I was lucky to know you … ,” she added.
Medical student Moya called the Nigeria-born Jamaican selfless, recalling that during a “rough” time before her surgery exam and on the verge of tears, Abayomi left the hospital ward to comfort her.
“A true gem,” she wrote.
“Bilal was extremely loved. It’s sad that he just couldn’t feel it,” another doctor, who identified himself as Brian, wrote.
In a Gleaner interview last August, Abayomi was open about his struggles with mental health issues, depression, and anxiety.
“I’ve had these all my life. Those are things that I struggle with. I also suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). I suffer with a lot of medical issues,” he said at that time.
The medical issues included a pulmonary embolism, which caused him to be hospitalised in August 2021.
Doctors at two of the island’s premier hospitals told him then to forget about completing medical school because he was dying.
He had presented with severe blood clots and repeatedly coughed up blood, which resulted in partially damaged lungs.
But after days and endless rounds of treatment, medics saw a vast improvement in his condition.
He was subsequently discharged and was able to study for and sit his final exams, graduating medical school a year later.