BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A woman is seeking the public’s assistance in sending her two-year-old son overseas to receive treatment for a condition which has slowed his development.
Juliette Powell – while speaking with SKNVibes – explained that her only son – Romario Walters – at the age of two years is unable to speak, does not walk and creeps abnormally.
She explained that his condition is owing to the fact that “at birth…doctors explained to me that he swallowed some of the meconium fluid – which is his stool and urine mixed together from when he was inside – which caused him to have a lack of oxygen to his brain…”
She said the lack of oxygen to his brain “slowed his development”.
“He is two now, he isn’t talking as yet. I have been taking him to numerous doctors. He isn’t saying Mama or Dada yet which is expected for his age. He creeps a little abnormally, he does it like he is dragging. Because of that I took him to the bone specialist Dr. Daryl Warner and he examined and he said it’s not the bone, it is a muscle problem. Because of what I explained to him, he referred me to Hans Richards. He is doing a good job but he needs more intense therapy.”
Little Romario – for the past five months – has been undergoing physical therapy with physical therapist Hans Richards who explained that the lad is in need of more intense and a wider scope of treatment which is not available in St. Kitts/Nevis.
“When he came he had a certain level of spasticity - which is tightness in the ligaments, muscles and joints - flexibility was poor and based on his condition, I recognised that he has capability of making a fair enough turnaround which would allow him to walk and to be more responsive. For him to have better improvement on his condition…there needs to be assistance in getting him off to a more advanced and experienced rehab centre.
“Working on his condition, there are a number of therapists which he would need that we do not have on St. Kitts. There are about nine different that should work with him, some on a daily basis and others on a monthly basis. Here, we only have three, which are the paediatrician Dr. Patrick Martin, the Orthopaedic Surgeon which is Dr. Daryl Warner and the rehabilitator which is myself.”
Richards explained that rehabilitation he provides involves muscular and the exoskeleton but speech, occupational and other forms of therapy are also necessary.
He added that because Romario is tender-aged, this is the perfect time for him to get the assistance he needs. “We don’t want to wait until he is older because it would be easier now…”
In making a plea for financial and other assistance from the public, Powell said, “I am appealing for whatever can be offered to me in assisting my son in any way. He needs the help desperately. It’s not easy…he is my only child, it is very difficult to deal with him on a daily basis seeing that he is not walking as yet. I am getting help from my family and his father but financially, it is difficult and that is the most help I need. If there is any assistance I can get there…”
Richards explained that without the advanced treatment, Romario’s recovery period would be much longer than if he got the assistance he needs.
Individuals, business, non-governmental organisations and others wishing to assist Romario are kindly asked to contact Powell at (869) 663-1086.
