Mom fights to save baby living with stage four cancer

Except for the cast on his legs, it would be difficult to tell that 22-month-old Najeeh Smith is putting up a fierce fight against stage four neuroblastoma, a cancer that develops from immature nerve cells.

Despite his illness, the infant is full of energy and has the most contagious laugh. He blows kisses to his mother Shanese Hamilton while trying to wiggle from her grasp to play with his toy bike on the floor. But Najeeh is in dire need of a bone marrow transplant. Local medics have done all they can, so Hamilton is seeking the public's assistance in raising US$120,000 (approximately $18.5 million) that is required to have the procedure done at Narayana Health, a private hospital in India.

"I am asking Jamaica to please help my son as he is such a blessing. The money will be used for airfare, hospital fees and so on. He needs this as soon as possible because the cancer is at stage four. Najeeh is very smart and I had plans of sending him to school this September. He is a quick learner and when he was younger, I always told him how smart he was and that I would want him to be the next prime minister. I just want to give my son a good shot at life so I am asking anyone who can help to please do so," she said.

While it mostly starts in the adrenal glands, neuroblastoma can develop in other areas of the abdomen and chest, neck and near the spine. The cancer most commonly affects children age five or younger, though it may rarely occur in older children. Some forms of it go away on their own, while others require multiple treatments.

Hamilton, 21, who resides in Hannah Town, Kingston, said she had a normal pregnancy and did not miss any of her antenatal check-ups. She said Najeeh appeared healthy, but in March, things changed.

"Mi see him a lose weight and mi carry him to the clinic but it showed that he only lost a little bit of weight. I went for another check-up weeks later and his weight had gone up back. Him stop eat again and I took him to another doctor and he just write a prescription for Panadol but when I gave the baby, he just started vomiting," she said.

The young mother said the doctor recommended that she change his formula. Though Najeeh started eating once more, she had an uneasy feeling. She grew more concerned when she felt something moving inside his stomach. A series of medical tests at the Bustamante Hospital for Children and other medical facilities in May revealed the devastating diagnosis.

"I was in disbelief and I remember just telling the doctor that I didn't believe her. I didn't even know what the cancer was but I did my research. I have always wanted a son and I prayed for him so when he was born, I knew he was a blessing. I wasn't expecting to hear about cancer," she said.

"He did a surgery and his spleen was removed with the mass [in his stomach]. When he came home, he wasn't walking so I carried him back to the hospital, but the doctor said it was probably because he did a major surgery which lasted for 12 hours. But one day he had a very high fever and was crying non-stop, so I took him back to the hospital where he was admitted," she added.

The cancer had spread to her son's legs. Little Najeeh underwent two rigorous sessions of chemotherapy treatments.

"Najeeh is so strong and blessed because I have seen him go through a lot. Chemotherapy wasn't easy and I have seen him with wide cuts and to see him come back to this is just the good grace of God. He is just a very strong baby," Hamilton said. A GoFundMe account created for the infant has raised US$877.

Persons wishing to assist baby Najeeh may contact his mother Shanese Hamilton at 876-497-0774. Donations can also be made to her NCB savings account #065368358, Duke Street branch of the GoFundMe at https://gofund.me/fa8f99c7.