National midfielder Keron Cummings underwent a successful surgery yesterday at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital and doctors believe he should be able to return to the playing field in ten months.
Cummings, 27, who was shot on the right leg by a masked gunman near his home in Diego Martin on Sunday, had a steel rod placed into the femur to stabilise the fracture. The bullet which was lodged was also removed.
Speaking with the T&T Guardian yesterday, Cummings’ father, Christopher, said he was at the hospital when the surgery was in progress and was hoping and praying to God for a speedy and full recovery. “I left him at 1 pm and he was in good spirits,” Christopher said. Cummings was visited by his three children—Jevon, Naeem and Tianna—yesterday evening.
Asked if he would be transferred to a private hospital as promised, Christopher replied:
“I would firstly want to have a talk with his doctors and then we would take it from there because if he has to be transferred to a private facility it means that we would have to get money for that. “As far as I heard the hospital has a good therapy procedure going. We will still have to pay to get further therapy sessions on the outside but it won’t be as exorbitant.”
TTFA medical consultant Dr Mario John, who is an orthopedic surgeon based in Orlando, Florida, United States, was able to observe yesterday’s procedure. In a statement issued by the TTFA’s director of communications, Shaun Fuentes, Cummings said he was relieved following the surgery.
“Firstly I want to thank the Almighty Lord for bringing me through this. I am relieved at the moment. I would like to thank my family and teammates, the national team management and the TTFA for their support over the last few days.
“This was a very difficult time in my life but I am thankful that with rehab I will be able to make a comeback,” Cummings said.
He was visited by TTFA president David John Williams and other members of the national team at the hospital. T&T head coach Stephen Hart added: “This is very good news for the player and also for us. We have kept him in our prayers and we are thankful for the outcome.
“He will have our support throughout this and it is important now that the follow-up care and the rehab process go well for him.”