Single mom struggling with daughter’s medical bills

Survival for mother of three Gillian Jamieson has not been the easiest over the past few years, and she feels she has no choice but to appeal to the public for assistance.

Jamieson has been struggling to fund the medical bills for one of her daughters as well as rebuild their house which was gutted by a fire in 2018.

"I'm not going to lie, it is not easy on me. I have a lot on my plate to deal with because my daughter is not well and I don't even have a place to call home for me and my children," she said

Her eight-year-old daughter Sasha Goolgar suffers from bilateral retinoblastoma (cancer in both eyes). Jamieson revealed that Sasha was born with the ailment, but did surgery when she was six months old which removed her left eye ball.

"But every year I have to be replacing the prosthesis," said Jamieson. "She also did chemo after her surgery to freeze the tumour in the other eye so she didn't lose it. Since then she has to be going to the clinics regularly to do MRIs to ensure that she doesn't have tumour growing anywhere else."

Jamieson explained that doctors advised her to do CT scans and other check-ups on Sasha, including for her hearing, every three months, because she was diagnosed with cancer so early.

Change her prosthesis

"Almost every month I'm at the doctor with her. The last MRI I did was over $40,000 and I also had to change her prosthesis which was like $60,000-plus last year and I have to find this money all the time."

Jamieson, 35, whose other children are aged 12 and five, says her job as a domestic helper is not sufficient for their survival, especially since the difficulties brought on by COVID-19.

"Currently I'm not working so that makes it even difficult. I never really had a constant job either. I would do some house cleaning with a lady here and there but that not going strong due to COVID. Sometimes all three weeks I don't get any call to work," she told THE STAR. "My oldest daughter's father help sometime but it is not enough to stretch."

The bills keep coming, and trying to rebuild her home adds strain to the Red Hills, St Andrew, resident.

"I have since been staying with family members all over and I just want to make my children comfortable. I only managed to put up the blocks so far, the roof need to go on and thing so I don't know when that will be done," she said.

Jamieson said that she hopes that 2021 will bring positivity so she can feel like all hope is not lost.

"Even the online class now is very difficult because I only have one phone that is sharing between Sasha and my little son and I can't afford to buy another device," she said.

Those who wish to assist Jamieson may contact her at (876) 557-6684.