Jermaine Barrett loses battle with cancer

Jermaine Barrett, the 28-year-old cancer victim whose story captivated Jamaicans, has died. Barrett passed away at his home in Mt. Salem, St. James, early Sunday morning.

Shena Carty, president of charity group Jamaican Madhouse, said the family is shaken by the loss.  

“Jermaine was not there in body and mind in his last few weeks and I saw it coming but I can't help but being sad,” said a grieving Carty said.

She told The STAR that Barrett's mother, Jean Carroll and members of his family is struggling to come to terms with the loss.

Barrett was first featured in THE STAR in April 2016, when he was pleading for help to go overseas to treat what was then a mysterious growth on his face. It was later diagnosed as a cancerous tumour. 

However, despite receiving treatment overseas, Barrett was unable to fight the disease.

"The doctors in the US did a scan, saw where it (the tumour) came back, and have made the assessment that they cannot touch it or do anything more for him," Chantel Dias, B

arrett's sister, told The STAR during a visit the family's home last week.