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Five-year-old leukemia girl needs desperate help for surgery
Five-year-old Tamira McKenzie, who lives with her parents and sister at Pattensen, East Coast Demerara, once attended Carol’s Nursery.
She proved to be one of the most intelligent students in her class but life for her changed when she was diagnosed with
The little girl months after suffering with leukemia.
Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)/ Post Linker Regimen Induction in January this year.
Cecelia Richards, the child’s mother, in tears related that she needed financial assistance to take her daughter for a very necessary bone marrow transplant overseas. The mother said that she has raised US$34,000 but still needs another US$19,000.
According to Richards, her daughter has been undergoing treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) since January. Shortly after being released in May after one of several visits to the hospital, one of the child’s kidneys collapsed and she was rushed once again to the GPHC.
Doctors at this institution suggested she undergo immediate treatment and therapy.
The operation is done overseas, mainly in the US and India. In the USA, the estimated cost, excluding insurance, is around USD$63,000 while in India it is around US$10,000 less.
The mother, begging for assistance, preferred that the surgery be done in India, not because of the cost but because the doctors in India have convinced her that her daughter has a better chance of survival there following surgery.
Tamira is currently hospitalized at the GPHC in the Pediatric Ward with swollen hands, feet and suffering from abdominal pain. Tests recently indicated that Tamira is now deaf and is in need of an hearing aid.
Five-year-old Tamira McKenzie shortly before she was diagnosed with leukemia
According to Ms Richards, the hospital will help with one-third of the expense and the Ministry of Health is assisting with US$5000. With the support of her church, families and friends, she has managed to raise a significant sum also.
The family has since opened an account 161-721-6 with Republic Bank.
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