Teenager gets help as she battles leukemia

Alessandro Boyd, Gleaner Writer

Melinda Jarrett is praying for the day when she will be spared the emotional pain that comes with having to watch her 13-year-old daughter battle acute myeloid leukemia.

"It is devastating as she is my only child. This is really hard, but I just have to tell myself that I have to be here for her. It hasn't been an easy road, but so far, she has been able to come through," Jarrett told The Gleaner.

It was in February this year that Shannon Ewers turned up for a regular day of school at Lacovia High in St Elizabeth. Little did she know that her whole life was about to change due to events that unfolded. Ewers fainted in devotions and was taken to the doctor the next day. The doctor referred her to the hospital, and upon further testing, it was revealed that she had leukemia.

Test results were sent to the University Hospital of the West Indies and she was transferred to that institution on February 19. Since then, she has had chemotherapy four times.

"All of them (chemeotherapy sessions) have been very hard on her. The last one was two weeks on the machine, and that was especially hard for me as she couldn't move and was in one place for two weeks. I hate seeing my daughter like that," Jarrett said.

She shared with The Gleaner that the financial aspect has been the hardest part as the cost of her daughter's medication is more than $150,000 per month.

"It was really hard for me as a single mother. I remember the first prescription I got, I had to get help from my sister and my mother, and the others just got worse," Jarrett added.

HELPING HAND

Thankfully, she was introduced to Angels of Love Jamaica (AOLJ), which helped her with many of her financial burdens.

AOLJ is a non-profit organisation that is dedicated to providing life-saving treatment, health, education, and support services to children with physical, mental, or emotional problems.

"Thanks to Angels of Love Jamaica it's not so hard to source the medication anymore. We were introduced to them, and they have been on-board since that time to render assistance whenever needed," Jarrett commented.

"It's really strenuous because they have antibiotics that she constantly has to be on every day because the immune system is very weak. She always has to wear a mask to prevent infection, too," she continued.

Ewers also stated that she was very grateful for all the support that her mother has provided throughout the ordeal.

"Whenever I do chemotherapy, I can't eat for weeks, and I am in a lot of pain, but my mother is always here with me and that helps. Sometimes I feel like I am going to die, but she always says I must pray to God, and although we have lost family members, too, whenever she cries, I always help her out," Ewers told The Gleaner.