BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WITH her daughter recovering from a life-threatening ailment, Kamoy Liburd has taken a moment to say thanks to all who assisted in getting G’Neika the treatment she desperately required.
Liburd left the Federation in late January 2013 with her daughter – who was suffering from the effects of a brain tumour – for Bethesda, Maryland, USA, where little G’Neika endured a 14-hour surgical procedure to remove the tumour two days after their arrival at a medical institution there.
According to the child’s mother, the surgery was a success and her treatment since then involved regular sessions of chemotherapy and radiation over a three-month period.
That round of the treatment – which also included physical and recreational therapy - concluded in April, but G’Neika’s expressions of nostalgia prompted her caregivers to suggest that she be brought back to her homeland to associate and socialise with her family and friends before returning for another round of treatment.
They arrived in St. Kitts on Thursday (May 30) and, according to Liburd, the first things her daughter wanted to do were “to eat some fish and go to school”.
And the next day she was back in an environment that is all too familiar to her. She was back in school with her teachers and peers.
“It was a just a quick visit because she was complaining about missing home and she wasn’t eating and things like that. So they sent us home for a week. She is very jolly. We took her to school on Friday and she was with her friends there. The reception at school was great! The children themselves were there for her, all day, everyday…”
Having not being able to walk unaided prior to the surgery and therapy, and now being able to do so, Liburd expressed that her six-year-old is “doing great and is progressing well”.
Today (June 5), Liburd and G’Neika are set to return to the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Maryland where she will undergo chemotherapy twice weekly for a six-month period.
Following that, according to Liburd, it is expected that G’Neika would have regular check-ups which would include Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans.
“First, I have to give thanks to Almighty God, because if it wasn’t for Him I wouldn’t be this strong, she would not have been here and she wouldn’t have so much faith and so on. Thanks to my mother, my sisters and my family on a while who were supporting me, friends and also Kenrick Simmonds for being there for me and G’Neika. Also thanks to the media houses, teachers, Principal, children and parents of the Violet Petty Primary School and other schools which donated.
“Special thanks to G’Neika’s personal doctor, Dr. Hodge, the physicians of PAL (Paediatric Assistance League), people and organisations who donated to the fund and me personally, LIME, PEPTV, Pharmcarre, KFC, RAMS, Courts, workers at Electrofab, Dr. Vance Gilbert, the Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris, staff of the NIH, Women’s Group of the Tabernacle Methodist Church, Pamella Armstrong of Essence of Hope Breast Cancer Association, Giselle Matthew of Harpers Bookstore and to the public in general, thanks!”
