Man battles brain tumour and mounting debt

Odean Gray, 42, is currently grappling with a brain tumour that has disrupted his once peaceful life, compelling him to urgently seek financial assistance to address mounting hospital bills and prepare for another critical surgery.

The ordeal began in early 2022 when Gray noticed a shadow creeping over his vision.

"I started to experience darkness in my eyes," he shared with THE STAR. Determined to seek help, he visited numerous eye specialists before he got the startling diagnosis. He said the nature of the brain tumour led to a neurosurgeon who attended to him declaring, "If not treated urgently, you could end up blind or paralysed."

Gray underwent surgery at the University Hospital of the West Indies on January 30. However, his vision deteriorated soon after, which led to him going under the knife for a second time on April 4.

His vision troubles persisted and doctors, in mid-July, conducted a third procedure, this time to drain the fluid from a cyst in his head. Although he has since experienced some relief, Gray said he has been told that another operation needs to be done to replace a tube which was placed in his head to drain fluid from the cyst.

He said that he has been in constant pain.

"My eyes hurt me, my head hurt me, and I don't know if it is because of the sickness, but sometimes I just feel out of this world," Gray said.

"I have to have somebody taking me to and from places. Someone has to be there to lead me, and when it's me alone, I would stumble down four or five times. I can only glimpse now. If someone is in front me I can only see their shadow, but I can't really tell who it is," he added.

Gray has been a beneficiary under the Government's overseas employment programme. He has travelled and worked in Canada but is no longer in any condition to do so. He said that he is facing a staggering debt of $1.1 million for his medical expenses. To make matters worse, he is unable to work and depends on the goodwill of others for assistance.

"I would just really appreciate if they would help me to pay it, even if they don't want to give me the money in hand," he said.

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Odean Gray may be contacted at (876) 487-3035.