Boy needs help in fight against cancer

No child should have to live and fight for his life with every breath, but sadly, that is the case of 10-year-old Raje Josephs who has been putting up a fierce battle against stage 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma since 2019.

His mother, Vanessa Williams-Morgan, cried as she told THE STAR about a painstaking conversation she had with her son last week.

"Last week was the first time since all of this started and I saw him give up. He said to me 'Mommy, it looks like it is it this,' and I told him no. I told him we have to try and fight no matter what," she said.

Series of treatments

Williams-Morgan and Raje are currently in Cuba where he is receiving a series of treatments for a bone marrow transplant at the National Institute of Oncology and Radiology. She said they are in dire need of financial support and are seeking the public's assistance in accumulating the US$46,000 (approximately J$6.7 million) needed for the procedure.

"So far the GoFundMe has raised US$10,000 (or J$1.4 million) and I am really grateful, but we still have a far way to go. The money is needed now as we have exhausted what we brought here," she said. Hodgkin's lymphoma is cancer of the lymphatic system which forms a part of the immune system.

"The cancer has grown more since what they last saw in Jamaica, and this means we are also going to be here for a longer time. The doctors thought that by now the treatment would have been completed already. They now need us to make a payment to continue the treatment. They said if we find US$5,000 more they will continue the treatment. That has been raised in the GoFundMe and I showed it to them so they are going to continue today (yesterday) but a lot more funds is needed," she said.

Since Raje's diagnosis in 2019, the Old Harbour, St Catherine, resident has undergone 26 cycles of radiation and nine cycles of chemotherapy. Williams said she is in a place of despair as she watches her son suffer and fight for his life.

"I am a mess, I can't eat or sleep. I can't afford to come this far and to be turned back. I have done all that I can and is at the end. My son has been battling this for for two years and he keeps fighting for his life... He is so much stronger than I am," she said between tears.

Persons wishing to assist Raje Josephs may donate to his GoFundMe account or via Vanessa Williams NCB savings account 874098778 Old Harbour Branch.