Woman battling ‘mystery illness’

For the past year and a half, Princess Moodie has been battling a mysterious illness that has left her in excruciating pain on the left side of her body.

She said the illness has caused her to lose weight drastically and even her toenails are getting discoloured.

"In January I weighed over 180 pounds but my current weight is 112. I don't know where all the weight gone. When I just started to get sick, the pain use to on and off, but now is not just the breast alone, it spread to the entire left side of my body," she said.

Moodie said that she has visited several doctors, none of whom are able to diagnose her condition. She said that one recommended that she should undergo a series of medical examinations, including a biopsy. She, however, stated that she is unable to accumulate the necessary funds for the procedures.

"I am supposed to do a biopsy that cost $200,000. I also have blood tests to do but to be honest, I never even asked the cost for that because it is just going to send me into depression because I don't have any money," she said.

Moodie, 49, said she used to work as a janitor but is currently unemployed because of the present condition. She told THE STAR that she has been hesitating to ask for the public's assistance for more than a year, but decided to push her pride aside.

"I am the independent type and mi nuh like handouts so mi hold it and gwan bare the pain for a while, but mi can't do it anymore. I sometimes get little help from my family but I don't want to depend on them forever. So if anyone can help me pay for the tests, I would be very grateful," she said.

Moodie said she is constantly told that someone is working obeah on her and she should consult a 'reader person' or obeah man.

"But I was not brought up like this so I don't believe in those things. I believe it is a medical problem and mi nah go to no 'science' man. There are times when I will drink up some bush and herbs and my body will react different, so that alone show me say is a medical condition. I would rather pay for my tests than go to a obeah man because no one nuh obeah me," she said.

She admitted that she has not been taking pain medication prescribed by doctors because they do not tackle the root problem.

"I just want to know what is going on with me. I don't know what is wrong but I know it's not obeah like people think," she said.

Persons wishing to assist Moodie may contact her at 876 451 7950.