By Trudy Simpson, Staff Reporter
SHE LEFT their lives as quickly as she came in.
But for the staff of the Jamaica Foundation for Cardiac Disease (JFCD), the young woman, whom they dubbed Marie Doe, is a miracle and reflects the spirit of the Christmas season.
Marie Doe walked into the non-profit organisation yesterday, donated $10,000 and disappeared without leaving her name.
Like a female Santa Claus, the young woman, said to be in her early 30s, has carved a special place in the hearts of the JFCD staff for helping to give hope to 12 young children who are to undergo heart surgery to repair holes in their hearts, beginning Thursday.
"She said she had read about them in The Gleaner. She couldn't find us so she called the hospital and just walked in here and gave $10,000. We gave her a receipt in the name of Marie Doe," said Beverley Dinham-Spencer, JFCD president.
"She said God had been good to her and that she was grateful and wanted to give something back. We thank her for this wonderful contribution," Mrs. Dinham-Spencer said, the joy evident in her voice.
Last month, the JFCD and a number of other groups launched a fund-raising and blood appeal for the 12 children, who are between two months and eight years old.
Their surgeries, she told media, will be performed by local cardiac care surgeons and a team of 17 professionals and two administrative persons from Chain of Hope in the United Kingdom (UK).
The surgeries, which are to be done over a one-week period, will start December 13 and are being carried out by this team for the first time at the Bustamante Children's Hospital, Kingston.
Mrs. Dinham-Spencer also thanked National Commercial Bank for donating $52,000 and other companies and individuals who contributed. The total money received to pay for surgery-related expenses stands at $600,000, of which $92,000 came in yesterday.
The number of units of blood also jumped from 15 units on Friday to 90 over the weekend and yesterday but while grateful, Mrs. Dinham-Spencer said that over 30 more units of blood and over $200,000 were needed.
"I'd be more comfortable if the children went in with at least 120 units of blood. We are hoping to have six to eight units on standby for each child," she said.
The JFCD and other groups have set up an account for blood deposits at The Blood Bank, 21 Slipe Pen Road, Kingston, and arranging for transport for potential donors within the Corporate Area.
Donors are urged to call Mrs. Claudette Aldred at the Blood Bank (922-5181-4) between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. or visit the National Chest Hospital collection centre in Barbican, Mondays to Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Fridays up to 4 p.m.
Persons in other parts of the island are being encouraged to visit blood collection centres at the Cornwall Regional Hospital, Montego Bay, St. James, as well as other regional hospitals in St. Ann's Bay, Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, Port Antonio, Portland, Spanish Town, St. Catherine, and Mandeville, Manchester, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
