Five-year-old suffers from mystery illness

Two years ago, little Tasheka Lewis was a bubbly three-year-old, who was looking forward to begin basic school. However, that dream was never realised as the toddler has been left paralysed and unable to talk, the reasons for which are unconfirmed.

Her parents, Tracey-Ann Williams and Jermaine Lewis, are also at odds, blaming each other for her mystery illness.

"I really just want to know what's going on with my daughter. So far, no doctor has really given her any diagnosis. I just know that she was walking and talking really good and then she just stop. She get seizures a lot so because of that I can't even go out go work," Williams said.

Jahzeal Clarke, a young politician, first highlighted Tasheka's case when he uploaded a video recently, showing her condition. Yesterday, he gave Williams, who has two younger children, a little more than $40,000, donated by Jamaicans at home and abroad after seeing the video.

Tasheka's health problems surfaced in December 2017. Williams said that when she gave Tasheka to Lewis, the child was okay. But days later, she was told that the child was in hospital.

"Mi did promise to visit the baby at the hospital the Friday but mi never get to go and tell him (Lewis) that I would go the Monday. But then him tell mi say the baby get discharged. Mi tell him say mi a come for her but him say she have a next appointment at the hospital in May (2018) and him did take her back to the doctor for true. Mi never go over him place go look for her because mi and him family don't gree," she said.

She stated that after the May appointment, Lewis brought Tasheka back, but she was unaware that her daughter was neither walking or talking.

"Him give me the baby a sleep and mi leave. When mi reach a Mandeville, me ask her to walk and she drop back but mi a say she tired. When mi reach home and a call her to come for something to eat, she nuh come. Mi all start wonder if a turn dem turn her mind from me," she said.

She told THE STAR that she did not immediately seek medical attention as she did not have any money, and says Lewis never told her exactly what was wrong with Tasheka. But Lewis has strongly denied being responsible for his daughter's illness or that he kept Williams in the dark.

He said that he had Tasheka between May and October in 2017 and "Mi give her back to her mother and she did well nice and alright".

"She was running, walking and very jovial. That December, she call mi back and say she wa mi keep the baby because of circumstances and mi say okay ... mi don't have any problem keeping mi daughter," he said.

He said he picked up Tasheka and rode off with her on his bicycle.

"When mi reach home, mi put her down and mi notice say she drop but mi never pay it any mind because mi a say her foot probably cramp up from the ride. Mi put her to sit down and she start play with her little cousin," he said.

Lewis said hours later, he realised that Tasheka was not walking properly and the top of her head was filled with sores.

"Mi call her mom phone to ask what was wrong but mi nah get her. Mi grandmother say I must take her to Children's Hospital and dem admit her because dem say maggots was in her head," Lewis said.

He said Tasheka underwent a series of tests and examinations, including a CT scan at the Kingston Public Hospital.

"They told me that she had a swelling on her brain but they didn't know what caused it. For about two weeks I was calling her mother and I wasn't getting through to her. Mi babymother eventually call mi from a private number and I told her what happen."

After taking Tasheka back to her mother, Lewis said he told Williams that she needed to take the child to the neurology clinic once per week.

He insists that he gave the baby's godmother money to give Williams but he never heard that she carried Tasheka to the clinic.

"Mi keep on a ask about the baby and mi even beg her a picture of mi daughter and she always a tell mi say her phone can't take picture good or the baby a sleep," she said.

Williams said that Tasheka is scheduled to head back to Bustamante Hospital for Children for more neurological tests. But until then, Williams said that she badly needs a stroller or wheelchair to help carry Tasheka around.

Persons wishing to assist Tasheka Lewis may contact Williams at 876-779-4941.