BY: FABIAN LEDGISTER, Staff Reporter
A large scar runs down the back of 13-year-old Kabul Rochester's head after a tumour which was formed from a rare cell disease was removed in a recent operation. His mother, Glenna Harris (right), looks on with an expression of concern. - FABIAN LEDGISTER
DESPITE BEING DIAGNOSED with a rare cell disease he can't even pronounce, 13-year-old Kabul Rochester is a 'happy camper'.
A resident of Hope Bay, Portland, Kabul's main grouse is that he cannot play as much as he desires. He loves to run, play football and cricket. But his youthful mind has not yet grasped the severity of his condition. The burden of worrying has fallen on his mother, Glenna Harris, an unemployed mother of three.
Kabul has been diagnosed with a rare brain tumour known as medulloblastoma. The tumour, though removable by operation, has active disease cells that rapidly regenerate tumours.
FIRST SIGN
"Mi start see him walk funny, an a hang him head to one side ... When mi carry him guh doctor, dem seh a tumour form in him head," said Harris.
If left to grow, the tumour would become lethal, so an immediate operation had to be scheduled. At the cost of $65,000, the tumour was successfully removed on March 9. However, this was only a preventative measure, and not a cure.
The cell disease that forms the tumours, can only be eradicated through a new treatment called craniospinal radiation, a treatment available only at the Radiation Oncology Centre of Jamaica (Ltd.), for a cost of $1,063,086.00
To a mother, who already carries a $15,000 debt, owed to the St. Joseph's Hospital from the operation to remove the tumour, this is a mountain that she simply cannot surmount.
"It is a must that he gets the treatment, or a tumour will just grow back and get bigger ... Mi wish mi did rich, but mi nuh have dat kind of money," said Harris.
The mother laments that her mind is under constant stress, as she not only wonders where the money will come from, and when another tumour will form, but is in constant battle with her son who just wants to go play.
"Him nuh realise how serious di tumour ting is, an' if him drop pon him head, mi nuh know wa fi do," said Harris.
THE STAR received a copy of the pro forma invoice for the treatment. It indicates that an initial payment of $500,000 is required to begin the treatment, and the rest required before the end of the first half of the course of treatment.
But despite his immature outlook on life, Kabul understands that his life is in danger, and expresses his desire to live.
"Mi want to live, because I want to be a pilot ... If mi nuh get treatment mi head a guh swell up an' pop," were the words of Kabul.
An account has been set up at the First Caribbean International Bank, for anyone wishing to assist this young man in getting his life saving operation. The account number is 1001465219, and the account is named "The Kabul Rochester Radiation Fund."
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