One-year-old needs help after suffering chemical burns

The mother of one-year-old Jamar Thomas, who was severely burnt by chemicals in an accident, is seeking assistance to raise funds for surgery so that he can have a normal life again.

The incident happened on February 21 while Jamar was at home in Myersville, St Elizabeth, with both parents. His mother, Ashley Powell, was in the bathroom, while little Jamar's dad was cooking in the kitchen. While his father attended to the food on the stove, Jamar accidentally knocked over a bottle containing a chemical. Its contents unfortunately spilled on the toddler, causing serious burns.

"When mi see the baby mi shock, mi shake up, like mi turn idiot. Even now, every time mi look pan the baby mi just cyah come to terms with it...mi cyah even explain to yuh how mi feel, because every time mi look pan the baby and fi know seh anuh suh him use to stay, mi nuh know weh fi seh," Powell told THE WEEKEND STAR.

Baby Jamar was rushed to the Black River Hospital in St Elizabeth and subsequently transferred to the University Hospital of the West Indies in St Andrew. He spent over a month in hospital, but still needs additional help.

"Him have a problem now weh him have to guh duh plastic surgery pan him face guh down," she said. Powell noted that even Jamar's penis were burnt. She explained that in addition to surgery, he will require physical therapy to help him walk, because the burns on his legs have affected his mobility.

However, the cost of the procedures, including his therapy, is $723,000, and although the family has already managed to raise $300,000, they still have more than half of the way to go.

"Mi really need the help suh him face can fix and him can be normal again, like how him use to be. Mi want him can play without him inna pain, and act like how him use to act. So mi woulda grateful for the help, so I can get back my baby on his feet," Powell said, adding that since the accident, she has been unable to hold her son because he is in severe pain

"Yuh cyah lift him up, yuh cyah touch him face, From him face guh down to him belly, straight to him penis weh get the burn, yuh cyah touch it. As yuh touch it, him start bawl 'cause it hot. 'Cause like outside heal, but inside nuh heal," Powell told THE WEEKEND STAR.

Persons wishing to assist in getting medical treatment for little Jamar Thomas can donate to JN Bank, Santa Cruz branch, account number 2094673921 in the name Ashley Powell, or account number 11180947 in the name Marvin Thomas.