There has been an outpouring of love and support for 13-year-old Jamelia Julien who is in dire need of a heart transplant.
After the teenager's plight was aired on CNC3 news on Tuesday night, her mother, Roxanne Best, said she was not only pleasantly surprised but overwhelmed that so many strangers called offering emotional support and financial pledges.
Choking back tears Best, who spoke at her home at Bagatelle in Diego Martin yesterday, said, "It is really unbelievable that so many people want to help. It is really good news. I feel very happy. I mean ordinary citizens just wanting to help. I did not expect this so quickly."
She said she had not yet accepted any money as she would be opening an account at one of the banks this week following which members of the public could donate to the life-saving operation that costs close to US$160,000.
"I do not want to take any money from anyone until the account is set up. I want everything to be above board," Best, who left her job to fully care for her daughter, insisted.
But it seemed that time may be running out as Jamelia has been having minor heart attacks. Some doctors also predicted that she may not live to celebrate her 20th birthday.
"She would hold her chest in pain and her eyes would roll back and during all that I would shake her to wake her up because I do not want her to die," her mother recounted.
Five years ago, the teenager began complaining of chest pains and shortness of breath following which it was determined she was suffering from restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM), a rare form of heart muscle disease that is characterised by restrictive filling of the ventricles.
In this disease the contractile function (squeeze) of the heart and wall thicknesses are usually normal, but the relaxation or filling phase of the heart is very abnormal.
And although Jamelia has been placed on a waiting list, it was still undetermined when she would receive a new heart.
"We were told at the hospital that there are others waiting before Jamelia so we really don't know how long it would take before she gets a heart.
"They advised us that the next best thing was to raise money for the operation and that is what we trying to do now," Best said.
Added to this, she said the operation cannot be performed locally.
Saying it has been a daily struggle, Best was, however, more hopeful that her daughter's life could be saved and most importantly in time.
Jamelia was also grateful as she thanked God for opening a way when there appeared to be none.
Although battling the flu, Jamelia was like a regular teenager as she played video games on her phone.
But she was still worried about her fate.
"I don't want to die," she said softly as she professed her love for her family.
Jamelia loves to cook and wants to be a chef.
This was evident in the her constantly being glued to the "cooking channel," her mother said.
Best said all she wanted was for her daughter to have a regular life and to be happy.
Even the opportunity for Jamelia to have a secondary school education now seemed possible.
Jamelia sat the SEA exams and passed for Corpus Christi College in Diego Martin. But to this day her uniforms have remained unworn and neatly placed in the closet.
"I did not want to stress her out because any strenuous activity is a challenge for her. I just want this year to end and when the new year starts hopefully, when everything works out, she will be able to start school. I know she would be looking forward to that," Best said.
Praising the doctors and nurses at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope who have cared for her daughter over the years, Best described them as "pillars of strength" not only for her daughter but also for herself and Jamelia's father Anthony Julien.
"The doctors and nurses have really been good to us. They are doing all they could. They have been very diligent and accommodating," Best added.
Anyone willing to assist can contact Best at 766 2598.