Month end autopsy set for CRH newborn

An autopsy has been scheduled for April 28 to determine the cause of death of a newborn at Cornwall Regional Hospital as grieving mother Shandale Ballentine has launched a crowdfunding campaign to assist with funeral expenses for her son, Ramontay Rakai Ranger.

Ballentine said the decision to seek public support came after family and friends, aware that both she and her partner are currently on unpaid leave, encouraged her to create a platform for donations.

A distraught Ballentine told The Gleaner that she does not want to burn her son’s body.

“I wanted to give my son a proper send-off, a proper burial,” she said.

“I definitely have to bury my son … . I would like to bury Rakai, so that’s why I would need the help.”

She disclosed that a funeral home has reached out and offered to assist to some extent, but additional financial support is still required to cover the costs.

However, before the body is handed over to the family, a postmortem will be done in furtherance of the ongoing probe into the death of the infant.

Since The Gleaner brought the situation to light, hospital officials have maintained that established medical protocols were followed, but indicated that the investigation is not yet complete, as the autopsy findings are expected to provide a clearer understanding of what occurred.

They have also stated that the mother will be further engaged once the results are available.

Clinical Coordinator Dr Delroy Fray, speaking to The Gleaner, said a review of Ballentine’s medical file, conducted alongside the hospital’s chief obstetrician, confirmed that her pregnancy had been classified as high-risk and that appropriate care was administered.

CLOSELY MONITORED

“We looked through the file to make sure that everything was done according to book,” Fray said, adding that Ballentine was closely monitored throughout her pregnancy, including being admitted at one stage to stabilise her blood pressure.

He also noted that there were no clinical indicators to support a Caesarean section.

However, Ballentine said she was left shocked and in tears after reading the hospital’s response when she woke up on Friday.

“I started to cry. I could not believe that this was the response that they would give,” she said. “Despite my birth being a difficult one, the baby was alive and they took him to the nursery.”

She raised concerns about the availability of critical equipment, recalling that she was told there were only two incubators in the nursery at the time.

“I said, ‘There are only two incubators?’ And she said, ‘There’s only two … and we can’t take off the babies that are there to put your baby on’,” Ballentine recounted.

Her son was placed on oxygen, but she continues to question whether more could have been done.

“I really wanted to know what protocols were followed to save my child’s life,” she said, trailing off as she reflected on whether access to an incubator could have made a difference.

Ballentine said while the public reaction to her story has not eased her personal grief, it offers some sense of purpose.

“ ... It does bring a sense of closure to know that the story is being heard,” she said.

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has said checks are to be carried out and that accountability will follow if any wrongdoing is identified, while acknowledging the emotional strain on both the family and healthcare workers.

Opposition Spokesman on Health, Dr Alfred Dawes, has called for full transparency, arguing that the tragedy highlights deeper systemic concerns within the public health system and the need for urgent review of maternal care protocols.

andre.williams@gleanerjm.com

If you want to help Ballentine and the grieving family with funeral expenses, you could use any of the following crowd funding platforms:

https://realhelpinghands.com/campaign/ramontay-burial/

or

https://gofund.me/9e4a359d5