Young man needs $1.7m for medical treatment

Twenty-three-year-old Ramon Rhoden lived a fairly healthy life and is pursuing a bachelor's degree at the University of Technology (UTech) in business administration.

The Greenwich Farm resident also recently started a new job at a government agency, but illness has now caused him to attend work only two days per week.

Currently admitted at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), the youngster, who is suffering from thrombocytopenia, is urgently in need of medical care, which comes at a hefty cost of J$1.7 million. His family is seeking the public's assistance in raising the money required for the treatment.

Thrombocytopenia is a condition that occurs when the platelet count in your blood is too low. Platelets are tiny blood cells that are made in the bone marrow from larger cells. When you are injured, platelets stick together to form a plug to seal your wound. This plug is called a blood clot.

Ramon's father, Seymour Rhoden, said that his son is supposed to ingest four dosages of a drug called Mabthera.

Mabthera works by binding to an antigen on the surface of certain white blood cells known as B lymphocytes. It is the abnormally growing B lymphocytes that are responsible for certain types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. During the process of binding to the antigen, the abnormal growth of the B lymphocytes is stopped.

Rhoden said that he has already paid for one dosage, which costs $469, 494.28.

He said he is seeking assistance with the money needed for the remaining three dosages, one of which Ramon is scheduled to ingest this Friday.

"We would be really appreciative of any assistance. We have already purchased the first dose, but he needs another one by Friday. He is responding well to the treatments, and we hope that everything will be back to normal after he finishes everything," he said.

Ramon's father emphasised that his son had appeared normal until he began bleeding from the nose recently.

"About two weeks ago he was on the road and he was having nosebleed and he started to vomit, and I took him to Medical Associates Hospital. He was then transferred to the University Hospital, where we were told that his red blood cells were low and his platelets were very, very low. He was given steroids to build up ... his platelets," Rhoden said.

Ramon was discharged from hospital a week later and was instructed to attend an outclinic for further treatment.

"His condition deteriorated last week Tuesday night and we had to rush him back to hospital. He was vomiting blood and passing it through his nose, as well as he was having bellyache and weakness. He had gotten a lot of blood transfusions," Rhoden said.

Persons wishing to ass ist Ramon Rhoden may donate to the following NCB savings account, Duke Street branch, account number 064969439.