Stitchie’s wife makes appeal for blood

The wife of beloved reggae gospel artiste Cleve ‘Stitchie’ Laing is appealing to the public for donations of blood for the entertainer, who is now being treated at a public hospital in Kingston.

“We took him by ambulance to the hospital Thursday morning because he had a low blood count challenge. He received some units already, but he is in need of more,” Sophia Laing told THE STAR. “The good thing is that he is still with us.”

Stitchie suffered a stroke in 2024 that left him in critical condition following a severe brain haemorrhage. He was unresponsive and his family appealed for urgent support to provide him with the specialised long-term care he needed. The gospel and dancehall music fraternities responded to the call for assistance and rallied to raise finances to help with his care.

Stitchie has since been in a private, rehabilitative facility where he has been receiving dedicated medical attention and support.

“This is a hiccup … a snag in the journey,” Sophia said. “I can’t say at this point exactly when he will be discharged.”

However, Sophia, who has remained at her husband’s side throughout his illness, could, give the exact time that the Fast and Pray deejay has been in care.

“It’s been two years, one month and two weeks since he has not spoken.”

Stitchie will celebrate his birthday on Tuesday and Sophia is determined to see the cup as half full.

“He will turn 64. God has a reason why Cleve Laing is still in the land of the living. There are others who took ill after him and are no longer here … we leave it in God’s hands,” she said.

Two years ago, the family established a GoFundMe campaign to assist with mounting ongoing rehabilitation, physiotherapy, and medical expenses.

“The GoFundMe is still active,” Sophia told THE STAR.

Lt Stitchie, as he was known then, was a school teacher when his comedic song, Wear Yuh Size, hit the local charts. In 1987, he recorded his first album, Wear Yuh Size, for King Jammy, which the producer also named Great Ambition for the overseas market. A gifted songwriter, he used his pen to make the dancehall laugh and with his energetic performances to match, Lt Stitchie was constantly riding the charts and making his name globally. One of the earliest dancehall signees to Atlantic Records, all three albums he did for them – The Governor (1989), Wild Jamaican Romances (1991) and Rude Boy (1993) – received Album of The Year in Jamaica. Another feather in his cap was a feature on LL Cool J’s 14 Shots to the Dome.