Musician needs emergency bone marrow transplant - GoFundMe set up to raise US$50K

Ocho Rios-based musician Jermaine McLean is suffering from a critical case of aplastic anaemia and is in need of assistance to do an emergency bone marrow transplant in the US.

McLean told THE STAR that his situation is critical.

"It's very serious, life-threatening. They don't treat it in Jamaica so I have to go overseas to get this treatment done," he said.

"My condition is aplastic anaemia, that's when your bone marrow stops producing the red blood cells and the white blood cells in your body. Because no red blood cell is being produced, you're going to find that your haemoglobin level is going to fall. It's going to be always falling, so I have to be always getting blood transfusion, platelet transfusion. So, my platelet level is very low, red blood cells are very low, white blood cells are very low as well," he explained. Persons suffering from aplastic anaemia get fatigued and more prone to infections and uncontrolled bleeding.

The condition is rare and can develop at any age, and may develop suddenly or slowly over time. Treatment includes medications, blood transfusion, or stem cell transplant, also known as bone marrow transplant.

McLean, a keyboard player who is passionate about both music and basketball, is now hospitalised at the Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay, St James, and needs US$50,000 (approximately $7.75 million) to go to the National Institute of Health Hospital, in Maryland, for treatment to save his life. A GoFundMe page has been set up and has had a few responses so far.

"We humbly ask you to join us in this fight to save Jermaine's life," reads a section of the GoFundMe page.

Persons wishing to assist Jermaine McLean may do so at http s://gofund.me/27eb419b.