RADHICA DE SILVA
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Eight-year-old Jehue Thomas has an indomitable will to live, but he faces a tough battle with cancer.
Diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at the age of three, the Standard Two pupil of Arima Boys RC School is in dire need of bone marrow surgery to save his life.
Earlier this week, Jehue's parents Suzie Gonzales and Jason Thomas received the devastating news that all forms of treatment had been exhausted in T&T and their only hope to save their son's life was a bone marrow surgery abroad.
Lying on his hospital bed at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Jehue sent a video to TT saying: "Please help me to live. I want a chance to have a normal life."
Jehue's father works as a taxi driver and his mother works as a merchandiser with Unilever.
Speaking to Guardian Media on Tuesday, Gonzales said they were determined to do their best for their son. She is hoping that they could raise TT$1.3 million to take Jehue to the United States for life-saving surgery.
So far they have managed to organize a Barbeque fundraiser. Gonzales said their first cost is to raise $17,000 for tests to determine whether she is a match for her son and whether she could donate bone marrow for his surgery.
Giving a history of his illness, Gonzales said Jehue was diagnosed when he was in pre-school.
"He was sleepy all the time. He would get fevers," she recalled. After suffering from bouts of vomiting, and loss of appetite, samples were sent abroad and it was confirmed he had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a rare type of cancer that affects the white blood cells.
The treatment started with chemotherapy injections.
"It was very hard to manage. There were days when I would be out and down. I never used to cry in front of him. There were days when he was progressing well, other days when I was out, down and depressed because of what had happened to him," she recalled.
In 2020, at the age of five Jehue had his first relapse. This was during Covid and he began getting another form of chemotherapy. Then earlier this year, his second relapse left doctors worried and they advised his parents to take him abroad.
Gonzales said Jehue's illness had also affected his two siblings Zion, 15 and Jayden, 14.
"Today Zion called me crying saying it hurts him to see his brother this way," she revealed. Gonzales said they were praying to raise the $1.3 million to take Jehue abroad.
"He is a fighter. He is strong and he keeps telling me that he is not giving up. God is with him. We are so worried and crying but he is telling us all will be well and God will work things out," she added.
Earlier this week, Gonzales approached her MP for Arima Penelope Beckles for help. She said an official from the constituency office took some details of her predicament.
Although she plans to approach the Children's Life Fund, Gonzales is also praying that citizens will contribute anything they can to assist her son.
"We will do whatever we can to raise the money. What little you have will go a long way. We will have the barbeque and then a sweet box sale and after a curryque. I have to pay $17,000 to do the test as soon as possible and we are still gathering the money," she added.
The family has set up a GoFundMe for those wanting to assist.
"I hope that Jehue goes abroad and does his tests, comes back and lets everything will be successful and he will live a normal life. Right now he misses his school friends. I just want him to go to school and live a happy life," she explained.
She said Jehue wants to become a police officer.
"He says he wants to serve his country. He wants to take care of others," she added.
Gonzales said her son's ailment was the hardest thing she has ever faced.
"I know I have to be strong for him. I always have to be strong. There are times when I am so weak and crying. Every day, not a day goes by that I do not cry and question why my child has to go through this," she whispered.
She said her only consolation is hearing her son's voice saying: "Mummy don't worry, nothing will happen to me. I will overcome this. God will help me."
Anyone wanting to assist Jehue can call Gonzales at 290-1045 or make contributions to First Citizens Bank, Savings Account: 2892613 in the name of Suzie Jeline Gonzales and Jehue Thomas.
You can also make contributions to https://fundmetnt.com/campaign/rescue-jehue-from-cancer.