Eight-year-old fights for life

If the belief that faith moves mountains is anything to go by, then eight-year-old Nickeisha Lewis and her family are steadfast in living by faith until they receive much-needed funds to assist with the child's life-threatening illness.

Lewis, a grade three student at Spaulding Primary School in Clarendon, is currently seeking help to find out if there is any mutation in her blood.

An online dictionary defines mutation as a sudden departure from the parent type in one or more heritable characteristics caused by a change in a gene or a chromosome.

According to her mother, Nicola Lewis, Nickeisha has been diagnosed with Hypereosinophilic Syndrome (HES) since she was two years old.

"It's a rare illness that affects her liver and spleen, causing it to become enlarged. She attends the UHWI (University Hospital of the West Indies) Clinic every two to three months. She did her first test when she was much younger and, at the time, we were able to come up with the $45,000 fee," she related.

THE WEEKEND STAR understands that the family is now seeking US$1,070 (J$128,400) along with US$95 ($11,400) to offset the procedure, which commences after the required blood test is conducted at the UHWI and sent overseas for the conclusion.

THE WEEKEND STAR gathered that Nickeisha is a playful student, though her condition has hampered her ability to take part in sporting activities.

"She run and get all medal, but unfortunately, her condition has kept her from participating. She wouldn't appear sick on the outside apart from joint pains, hip pains, ankle pains, and some terrible headaches."

Her family is beseeching the public to help Nickeisha to continue to fight for her life.

Interested persons can contact her mother at 1-876-360-2162 or make donations at the National Commercial Bank through account number 854175475.