Shemar Thompson - contributed

Shemar Thompson has had a difficult four years on earth and now he needs some urgent help if he is to live a longer and happier life.

Thompson was jaundiced at birth and has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, which is a condition that affects his body movement and muscle coordination. Doctors who ran tests on the child, who can't walk or do anything for himself, found that he also has profound hearing loss.

As a result doctors have suggested he gets cochlear implants that will improve his hearing, special education and annual hearing evaluations. Shauna Thompson, his mother, said the implants will significantly improve their ability to care for him. "If he gets the implant whenever he is feeling pain he could tell us where and when. He can't walk now but we could talk to him and help to move about better," she said.

Shemar will require surgery to put in the implants; however, this surgery is not done on children locally. Therefore, the family has been seeking assistance to take him to Cuba or the United States where it can be performed. In the United States the surgery costs US$55,000 ($3.6 million), while in Cuba the surgery costs US$20,000 ($1.3 million).

While the above costs do not include travelling, accommodation and other expenses, the couple is optimistic that if they get enough for the surgery, they can raise the additional money needed for those expenses.

Neither Richard Thompson, Shemar's father, nor his mother holds a steady job, and they also have a 10-year-old child who needs care. This has affected their ability to find money for the surgery.

But the family from Water Lane, Spaldings, Manchester, are hopeful that some good people will respond and help them because they want Shemar to get a chance to live better. "He is remarkable and if they see him they will love him too," she said.

Anyone wishing to assist the Thompsons can make deposits to a Scotiabank account at the Christiana branch. The account number is 400246; or call the family at 397-1419 or 350-3748.