Three-time gold medalist diagnosed with brain tumor

Jun 04, 2018 Sports

Ross’s current state.

At just 15-years-old, many would be soaking up the enjoyment of their teenage years, but for Beyonce Ross she spends her days bedridden at her home in Rose Hall Town, Berbice.
She made her town proud when she captured three gold medals in the junior category of the cycling championship but now the town has to rally around her to win a race she just can’t afford to lose, a race to stay alive.
Ross began feeling sick with headaches in early February, these symptoms forced her mother Yonette Clarke, 48, to rush her to the Port Mourant Hospital and eventually the New Amsterdam Hospital. The doctors at those two institutions were treating her for ulcer and stomach pain since they reportedly told the family that the symptoms she was experiencing were similar to the stomach ache and ulcer diagnosis.
As time elapsed her condition worsened, she then decided to take her daughter to a private doctor in the city. An MRI scan was recommended by the doctor and the results of the test were not what they were expecting.
It revealed that young Ross had a developing tumor in her brain that could possibly be malignant (cancerous) however, they won’t know until the result of the biopsy which was done on Wednesday by a doctor visiting from Jamaica.

Ross receiving one of her many awards from Minister of State Joseph Harmon.

Clarke explained that the MRI scan had revealed that the tumor was situated in the centre of the brain and there was excessive fluid retention. They were referred to the leading Neurosurgeon in the country Dr. Amarnauth Dukhi.
During her meet with Dr. Dukhi, he joined Ross to his clinic at the Georgetown Public Hospital due to the state she was in, “He requested an operation to help to drain the fluid that’s building up in her brain, so he put a shunt in her brain right now, that’s draining the fluid from the brain to her abdomen”, Clarke said.
The three time junior gold medalist underwent her first surgery on the 13th April, 2018 at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Her condition, her mother said, improved a little.
It was then that Ross’s case was referred by Dr. Dhuki to Dr. Crandon who was visiting from Jamaica. “Dr. Crandon did the biopsy (two) Wednesdays ago, Dr. Dukhi had indicated to us that where the tumor is located it is in a critical spot in the center of the brain”, Clarke explained
The result of the biopsy is expected in today and will determine whether the tumor is cancerous, “The surgery cannot be done in Guyana that was indicated by the doctors but they haven’t given us any place where it can be done as yet, we will take it from there on Monday after we get the results”, the mother said.
Clarke told reporters that financially it has been difficult for her but noted that it is her daughter and she will stop at nothing to see that her daughter is back on her feet. She can be contacted on telephone numbers 337-4456 or 683-6106. (Malisa Playter Harry)