By Indarjit Seuraj Thursday, September 3 2009

With the medical expenses of 13-year-old Paige Welch already crossing $500,000, relatives of the United States citizen have set up a local bank account for donations towards off-setting her escalating medical bills.

The move by family members in Trinidad came just days after surgeons amputated a part of Paige’s left arm — six to eight inches down from her elbow.

Doctors also remain uncertain of how much more of the teen’s arm they would be able to save. She will require further surgery which will increase the medical cost.

Paige and her mother, Raquel, 40, of New Hampshire in the US, were injured during a boating accident close to Scotland Bay, Chaguaramas, on August 16 last.

Paige’s 23-year-old cousin Lance Aqui, was also injured while navigating his red fiberglass kayak. He sustained a severed Achilles tendon.

The incident reportedly occurred at the hands of an Army private assigned to the Support and Services Battalion.

The Welch’s medical expenses on leaving Trinidad, included a bill at Medical Associates private hospital totalling close to $350,000.

Paige’s father, Clarke, also charged to his credit card, a US$32,000 (TT$220,500) bill to hire an air ambulance to airlift his daughter to the Boston Children’s Hospital.

She remains warded at that hospital on Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts.

Raquel Welch also had to dish out thousands of dollars to buy a first class ticket for a flight back home. The first class seat was needed to afford her enough room and comfort for her injuries during the flight.

She, too, is expected to receive additional treatment back at home.

An account has also been set up in the US at the Sea Coast Credit Union, Exeter, New Hampshire, to assist with the medical bills.

Anyone wishing to donate locally to Paige’s full recovery can make a deposit at any branch of Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago Limited.

Account #4005144. Transit #95315.