Heart patient suffers setback in surgery - But still has faith that she will overcome

"I shall live" remains the testament of Markelia Brown, who last week received the news that she was deemed "too sick" to undergo the heart surgery she desperately needs.

From the moment she was diagnosed with sickle cell disease at three years old, Brown has been defying the odds. Doctors predicted she wouldn't live past six, but she proved them wrong. Now, at 27, she faces yet another life-threatening battle. In 2020, at age 22, Brown was diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease. This caused her heart to enlarge, and both her left and right heart valves began leaking severely, creating a complex medical situation. Doctors knew she needed a valve-replacement surgery to survive, but her multiple underlying conditions made the operation extremely risky.

Last year, an echocardiogram revealed that her condition had worsened, making the need for mitral valve-replacement surgery urgent. Without it, she risked suffering a fatal heart attack at any moment. Last Sunday, Brown was admitted to the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) as part of an annual cardiac mission, a collaboration between the hospital and Montefiore Hospital in Bronx, New York. The programme provides open-heart surgeries to up to 10 patients each year. However, during pre-surgical tests, doctors ordered a haemoglobin electrophoresis blood test to assess her sickle cell levels. The results showed they were too high for a positive outcome to her surgery.

Brown told THE STAR that although she was initially disappointed, she remains grateful despite the unfortunate news.

"I know the doctors did everything they could, and I appreciate their effort because I know they considered every possible option. But like them seh, the surgery was just too much of a risk," Brown explained.

"Maybe if dem did do the surgery, mi wouldn't deh ya a talk to yuh right now. So I give God thanks for every delay, because He is in control. Delayed don't mean denied," she said, adding that her faith remains unshaken.

"God nuh ready fi mi yet. Mi still have so much to achieve. So mi thank God because a Him do this, and Him say it's not my time to go because my tasks are not yet finished," she said boldly.

Brown said that doctors have informed her of plans to give her a blood transfusion, to see if they can lower the sickle cell levels for the surgery to be done. For now, Brown's surgery is on hold once again, and she has been referred to the sickle cell clinic at the UHWI. This will require tedious travel from her home in Montego Bay, St James, but she is determined to do whatever it takes to improve her health.

She also expressed gratitude to those who donated blood on her behalf because after this newspaper shared her request, 12 more persons donated.

"Thank you to all who donated blood for me, and to everyone who was there for me throughout this whole journey," she said.

As she waits for another opportunity to undergo surgery, Brown continues to hold on to hope, trusting that her time to heal will come.