Single mother battling renal failure

For most of her adult life, Tannica Tomlinson was living living independently, working at a prominent resort while providing for her now 11-year-old son.

But renal failure has rendered her helpless. Over the past two months, Tomlinson said she has spent close to $500,000 on medical fees and is now dependent on good Samaritans.

"This illness has taken away my independence completely and it has got worse since August. Although I was sick, I used to work, but now I can't because my condition has gone really bad. I am a single mother and my house was partially destroyed in the hurricane. So now I have to be paying rent until it is repaired. I would be greatly appreciative of any help I can get," she said.

Tomlinson said she was diagnosed with hypertension when she was 19, but was able to manage it. However, in July 2022, the St Elizabeth resident said her blood pressure elevated to the point where she was admitted at the Black River Hospital.

"It was there I found out that my kidneys were not working, both of them. I was shocked because I was not having any symptoms or anything. My pressure was just sky high. I then went to the renal clinic in Mandeville and I was told that I was at stage 5 renal failure. They told me that I was going to need dialysis, but other persons told me that once I start it, I will have to continue. So I run from it and never dweet. I went the herbal way," she said.

Tomlinson said she was pleased when checks showed that her creatinine level was decreasing. Creatinine is the waste product of creatine, which the muscles use to make energy. Typically, creatinine travels in the blood to the kidneys, where it leaves the body in the urine. A high level might indicate that the kidneys are not working correctly. However, she said she was advised that dialysis was still needed. She continued to ignore her doctor, even after she found out that she was pregnant, because her creatinine level was going down due to the herbal medicine.

"They then told me that it was not high enough to hurt mi but the creatinine was high enough to hurt the baby. I decided to do the dialysis," she said. Last December, Tomlinson said she was admitted at the hospital where she underwent dialysis sessions.

"By this time my blood pressure was high to the point where I had preeclampsia and I was referred to UHWI (University Hospital of the West Indies). But I told them that I didn't have that kind of money and I was referred to [Victoria] Jubilee [Hospital]. While I was there I was told that the baby won't survive as she was underweight and my pressure was high. Labour was induced in February 2023 but as expected, the baby didn't survive," she said.

After being discharged, Tomlinson said she spent a few weeks at Mandeville Regional Hospital where she learnt that her creatinine level had dropped and dialysis was no longer recommended. She continued to work and do her regular visits at renal clinic. However two months ago, her health took a hit.

"I was having shortness of breath and was very weak and my blood pressure was over 200. My oxygen level was low and I was admitted again at Black River Hospital. My creatinine was over 2,000 and it nuh suppose to pass 100. I had to start doing dialysis again and it's either that or I get a kidney transplant," she said. Tomlinson now has to do dialysis twice a week, costing $15,000 per session.

"Mi have to do all sort of tests. It drain every dollar that I have. People have to be helping now with even a plate of food. People have to be helping me to take care of my son. All of this just draw me down," she said.

Persons wishing to assist Tannica Tomlinson may make donations to her NCB savings account #674114877 or Scotiabank - Santa Cruz branch account #010416174