| Subject: Newsday (29th Sept. 2008)-Kids with Cancer |
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Trini77
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Date Posted: Tuesday, September 30, 02:54:41pm
Author Host/IP: cpe-66-65-16-174.nyc.res.rr.com/66.65.16.174
Kids with Cancer
By CAROL MATROO Monday, September 29 2008
BRAVE FACES: Miss TT/World Gabrielle Walcott (back row left) and NCRHA CEO Cynthia Carrington-Murray (back row third from left) with some brave young cancer patients at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex yesterday.
THEIR bodies are small and frail as they battle against a silent killer, but hope still shines in their eyes, their lips are always ready to smile, even as they struggle to overcome cancer.
Now, a new paediatrics specialist ward, to be opened on October 31 at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, will hopefully bring some relief to children battling the disease, and provide treatment needed to destroy or control the illness.
The new ward is an initiative of the North Central Regional Health Authority and Trinidad and Tobago’s representative for the Miss World competition, Gabrielle Walcott, has adopted the ward for which she will now be a patron.
This announcement was made while the NCRHA treated several children suffering with cancer at the rooftop restaurant at the complex, yesterday. The children feasted on KFC and were presented with party bags, balloon poodles and teddy bears.
Eleven-year-old Kimberly Singh has to be supported because her cancer, medulablastoma, has thrown off her balance. The child’s mother, Rebecca, said Kimberly was diagnosed with cancer last year after complaining of headaches. “When we carried her to the doctor, he started treating her for migraine, but she continued getting the headaches and she was vomiting, so they decided to do an MRI. That is when they saw the tumour at the base of her brain,” she said.
She said Kimberly was unable to go to school because of her condition. “Some days she is better than other days, but, God is in charge and we are beginning to see some progress. We are hoping for the best,” she said.
Chief executive officer of the NCRHA, Cynthia Carrington-Murray, said dealing with cancer was very traumatic for the youngsters.
“It is not easy for them to deal with the pain, or for them to lose their hair. It is a painful thing to see. Cancer awareness is now helping to bring cancer to the forefront, making people more aware,” she said.
Leukaemia, brain tumours and lymphoma are the three major cancers that lead to deaths among children between zero and 14 years. Walcott said her decision to take a special interest in the new cancer ward stemmed from having to watch her mother suffer through her aunt’s death.
She said private groups and organisations were coming on board to lend their support in treating with cancer, and praised her sponsor, Digicel, for donating $200,000 to get the ward started.
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