11-y-o on brink of losing sight due to cancer

When you are 11 years old your future should be bright and filled with possibilities, but not so for Jermaine Walters who is about to lose his sight because of cancer.

Jermaine, a student of the Guys Hill Primary School in St Catherine, has retinoblastoma [disease of the eye].

"The sickness is robbing him of his education and happiness," Jermaine's mom Tanesha Lawrence said. "It was just Friday that I spent $72,000 for a laser treatment and is due for another in two weeks. The next step is chemotherapy and we don't have the money. Simply, we need help." Lawrence, who has two other children, said if he is not treated urgently, he will go blind.

The 33-year-old unemployed mother said that there are times when she has to spend the night at The University Hospital of the West Indies with Jermaine.

"The sickness affects the entire family as when he was seven months old, he got treatment, and now this. Even his brother and sister cry and worry about the pain he feels," Lawrence said.

Jermaine has only gone to school once since the reopening of face-to-face classes. His extended time away from school has put a damper on his dream to become a member of the Jamaica Defence Force.

"I wanted to be a soldier, but I feel very bad as it is just pain that I am feeling in my eyes and need help to fix it. My mother and grandparents are trying but dem need more money," Jermaine said. Relatives have described Jermaine as loving, generous and brave, as he tells his mother not to worry. But the reality of the situation has not escaped his grandfather Donoview Whyte, who has exhausted his resources.

"Each time he is to visit the hospital, it hurt mi badly financially and otherwise as it's just pure pain. The mother not working so it cost me to pay for his doctor's bill, transportation and everything. This wicked," Whyte said.

Those who want to assist Jermaine Walters can contact his mother at 876-288-7693 and make deposits to Jamaica National Bank, Linstead branch, account number 2094611220.