10-y-o boy dreams of becoming doctor - Wants to become physician because of mother’s illness

Although he is just 10 years old, Merrick Foster has big dreams, and among them is to take his mother out of poverty when he becomes a cardiologist.

The youngster, who hails from the violence-prone community of Effortville in Clarendon, currently lives in a one-room dwelling with his sick mother, Ann-Marie Williams, and his four siblings.

"I want to be a doctor that helps people with their heart because this way I can help mommy. She is very sick so she can't work and sometimes when I see her catching fire with wood and coal, I feel bad and sometime mi cry. Mi waah help mi three sisters and mi bredda...mi wa carry dem out so dem can enjoy themselves," he said.

Yesterday, one of Foster's dreams was realised as through the assistance of James and Friends Education Programme, the Grade five student was able to take his family to Burger King for the first time.

"Mr James give mi some money so mi a carry dem go Burger King. Is the first time me a guh eat there too. When my father was alive, he used to take all of us to Denbigh. After him dead, we never go back, and mi know mi madda would want to go. When mi turn doctor, mi a guh buy her a big house in Kingston where she can live comfortably and buy a pretty Honda so mi can carry har go some nice place where she never go yet," he said.

Very impressed

Having learnt about little Merrick's dream, Laurie Spencer, branch manager for National Commercial Bank, May Pen branch, recently granted the youngster a scholarship valued at $250,000 to cover his tuition and other expenses. He also visted the family and surprised the 10-year-old with a bicycle and pair of Nike sneakers.

"Depending on how well he performs, I will sponsor him throughout high school. When I was introduced to this little man, I was very impressed about how compassionate he was towards his family. I spoke to him and I knew he spoke from his heart so I want to help him achieve his goals of becoming a medical doctor. I will be with him throughout his journey," Spencer said.