Molynes defender battling to keep son alive after a cancer diagnosis

by

February 05, 2021

Photo

Kemar and Rojief Seivwright

File Portmore United’s Rondee Smith (left) goes up for a header with Tivoli Garden defender Kemar Seivwright during their Red Stripe Premier League encounter at the Spanish Town Prison Oval,on Sunday, November 4, 2018.

In the National Premier League, Kemar Seivwright is an astute defender for Molynes United who has battled with some of the islands top attacking players.

Despite the lack of football in recent times due to the global pandemic, Seivwright has been fighting a different battle off the field, and that is to try and keep his two-year-old son Rojief alive.

Last year, young Rojief was diagnosed with stage-four neuroblastoma, an aggressive cancer that commonly affects children age five and younger. The cancer is formed in certain types of nerve tissue that can affect the neck, chest, abdomen and spine.

The past couple of months has been difficult for the former Tivoli Gardens player who has been in and out of the hospital with his young son, who is now in his sixth week at the Bustamante Hospital for Children.

Kemar recounts the cries of pain and the fatigue in his young son's eyes as the frail infant battles through chemotherapy.

It has been difficult

To say it has been difficult for the local footballer would be an understatement; however, the 31-year-old is hoping things will improve sooner rather than later.

"Right now, just talking about his plight brings cold bumps all over me. I know he is going through a lot of pain and suffering and it is hard. I just left the hospital with him and he said to me, 'daddy, I feel weak,', and my eyes got watery just looking at him," said Seivwright.

According to health experts, a five-year survival rate for stage-four neuroblastoma is 30 per cent, and with that knowledge, Seivwright is trying to get a surgery done on young Rojief to help prolong his life.

Kemar reached out to doctors at a cancer institute in New York who is willing to administer critical surgery and care at a cost of US$45,000 or JMD $6.3 million .

Kemar's agent, Baron Marshall, has set up a GoFundMe account to help raise funds to help to offset the huge sum; however, the defender is pleading for any sort of help to save his son.

Persons willing to help with young Rojief's plight can reach out to his father Kemar at this number: 876-846-6928.