Woman living with elephantiasis needs help

W hen Samantha Smith was just 11 years old, she found out she had Elephantiasis, a rare condition spread by the bite of mosquitoes infected with the roundworm larvae.

At that time, doctors told Smith’s mother that she needed to do a CT scan as her veins were blocked, and as such, liquid had begun to gather in her leg. That scan, however, was never done due to financial constraints.

Now 30 years old, Smith told THE STAR that she has been doing her best to cope, but that her leg has gotten bigger each passing year.

“There are times it hurt mi when mi affi stay in my bed. There are days I can’t even help myself because the pain is so severe. Back in high school and primary school, I could wear shoes but I can’t anymore,” she said.

The Albion Mount, St Mary, native said her condition prevents her from working as she is unable to move around the way she needs to. She added that she occasionally tries her hand at chicken rearing, but in times of drought, things have got hard.

Permanent work

The mother of three said the burden to care for her children has been left on their father. Smith also still needs to do a CT scan on her leg.

“They all have one father and he does not have a permanent work, so because of that, it is hand to mouth. I really need some help, especially for medical purposes. If there is any doctor who can research and find out what can be done, I would appreciate that very much,” she said.

However, Dr Winston Dawes, chief executive officer of Mahogany Health & Fitness, told THE STAR that while there is currently no cure for elephantiasis, the condition is not known to be fatal.

“Other doctors have tried removing excess tissue, but the skin is unhealthy so it breaks down and gives you ulcers which are very difficult to heal. So once you have it, there is nothing that can be done. If you get an infection and the infection got into the blood, then that can cause a problem, not the elephantiasis in itself,” he said.

Anyone who is willing to help Samantha Smith is asked to call her at 876- 792-6280.