Elderly woman needs money for abdominal surgery

Seventy-five-year-old Lilieth Jackson said that she has been in excruciating pain since her admission at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) on January 25.

The senior citizen who hails from Portmore, St Catherine, was diagnosed with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and is in urgent need of corrective surgery.

However, her family is unable to provide the almost US$13,000 (approximately $2 million) required for surgery at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) and is reaching out to the public for assistance.

When THE STAR reached out to Jackson for an interview, the pain and discomfort was evident in her voice, and she requested that her granddaughter, Dashawna Foster, speak on her behalf.

"The doctors said she has been living with this condition for years. We really don't want it to erupt as it will cause internal bleeding and if that happens it is going to kill her," said Foster.

"She can barely move and mi grandmother get mawga like string now. She is in a lot of pain and it really hurt us to see her like this, so we are appreciative of any assistance we go get so she can have the operation done to get her out of this pain," Foster pleaded.

AAA is a bulge or swelling in the aorta, the main blood vessel that runs from the heart down through the chest and tummy. An AAA can be dangerous if it is not spotted early on. It can get bigger over time and could burst (rupture), thus becoming life-threatening.

Foster said that her grandmother lived a normal life until about three years ago when she started having pain all over her body. The doctor, she said, diagnosed her with arthritis.

"She was in a lot of pain and felt a lump in her abdomen area, but before that they told her it was arthritis and it usually comes with age. I ensured that she got her medications and so on, but when I visited Jamaica about two years ago I realised that half of her body was swollen and I knew at the time that it wasn't arthritis because that condition has to do with joint pains," she explained.

Forbes further said that Jackson's condition got worse after the Christmas holidays and she was rushed to KPH. After a series of tests and examinations, they were informed that an endovascular aortic aneurysm repair procedure was needed.

Endovascular aneurysm repair involves inserting a graft within the aneurysm through small groin incisions, using X-rays to guide the graft into place.

A GoFundMe account has been set up for Jackson. So far US$1,260 has been raised. The target is US$13,000.

Persons wishing to contribute to Jackson's medical expenses may contact 876 998-7734 or use her GoFundMe link https://gofund. me/ec7646f7