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<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #CC0000"><span style="font-size: 17pt">Race against time to save toddler in Manchester</span></span></span>
BY GARFIELD MYERS Editor-at-Large
Friday, December 05, 2008
MANDEVILLE, Manchester - A family in Pear Tree District, Manchester is racing against time to raise US$500,000 for a bone marrow transplant to save the life of 23-month-old Courtney-Ann Brown.
The child was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma Stage IV, a childhood cancer, and since June of this year has undergone extensive treatment, including five cycles of chemotherapy at the University of the West Indies (UHWI).
Dr Doreen Brady-West, a consultant haematologist/oncologist who has been among those supervising the treatment of the toddler, told the Observer yesterday that for "best results", a bone marrow transplant (stem cell transplantation) should be done soon.
However, facilities are not available in Jamaica for such a procedure.
Courtney-Ann's mother, Andrea Brown told the Observer yesterday that after reviewing the case, Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York had expressed willingness to do the surgery if the money is paid.
Brown says she is hoping the approximately US$500,000 can be raised by year-end to early January, since doctors say the surgery has to be done as quickly as possible.
In the absence of the bone marrow transplant, doctors would have to persist with further chemotherapy. which - according to Brady-West - is a "less than the ideal option".
Brown says her baby was treated for a lump to the side of her neck when she was six months old. Doctors initially thought the problem was an enlarged lymph node but when it persisted, further tests confirmed cancer.
The use of chemotherapy has largely removed the lump and the child's mother says she is living in hope that her daughter's life will be spared.
"I have hope," she said. "At first I was very depressed, but when I saw the effect of the chemotherapy, I felt better and now I have a lot of hope and I keep praying," she said.
An account, # 625326, has been established at BNS branches for those wishing to contribute to a help fund. Brown can also be reached at
[email protected]; Tel:412-4413 and 422-1827.
South/Central Bureau
[email protected]
BY GARFIELD MYERS Editor-at-Large
Friday, December 05, 2008
MANDEVILLE, Manchester - A family in Pear Tree District, Manchester is racing against time to raise US$500,000 for a bone marrow transplant to save the life of 23-month-old Courtney-Ann Brown.
The child was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma Stage IV, a childhood cancer, and since June of this year has undergone extensive treatment, including five cycles of chemotherapy at the University of the West Indies (UHWI).
Dr Doreen Brady-West, a consultant haematologist/oncologist who has been among those supervising the treatment of the toddler, told the Observer yesterday that for "best results", a bone marrow transplant (stem cell transplantation) should be done soon.
However, facilities are not available in Jamaica for such a procedure.
Courtney-Ann's mother, Andrea Brown told the Observer yesterday that after reviewing the case, Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York had expressed willingness to do the surgery if the money is paid.
Brown says she is hoping the approximately US$500,000 can be raised by year-end to early January, since doctors say the surgery has to be done as quickly as possible.
In the absence of the bone marrow transplant, doctors would have to persist with further chemotherapy. which - according to Brady-West - is a "less than the ideal option".
Brown says her baby was treated for a lump to the side of her neck when she was six months old. Doctors initially thought the problem was an enlarged lymph node but when it persisted, further tests confirmed cancer.
The use of chemotherapy has largely removed the lump and the child's mother says she is living in hope that her daughter's life will be spared.
"I have hope," she said. "At first I was very depressed, but when I saw the effect of the chemotherapy, I felt better and now I have a lot of hope and I keep praying," she said.
An account, # 625326, has been established at BNS branches for those wishing to contribute to a help fund. Brown can also be reached at
[email protected]; Tel:412-4413 and 422-1827.
South/Central Bureau
[email protected]