For some persons $40,000 may seem like a small amount of money but for two-year-old Nickiesha Lewis it is now a matter of life and death.

The infant was diagnosed with hypercosmophilic syndrome in April 2009, and since then has been in and out of hospital. When THE STAR spoke with her mother recently, the child was admitted at the University Hospital of the West Indies after falling ill.

The child's mother Nicola Lewis told THE STAR that her daughter needs to undergo some tests that will help doctors to further explore her diagnosis and pinpoint the root cause. The test, however, costs $40,000 and although this might sound like a fair sum, to her it is out of reach. With the help of others however, she has managed to raise $20,000. She therefore is in need of the other half.

high blood pressure

She explained, "She has a big spleen, a big liver and her white blood cells are higher than normal. She is in hospital now cause she took ill on September 18. She has high blood pressure."

Lewis explained that the condition often results in her daughter feeling a tremendous amount of pain in her abdomen. She also revealed that one of the child's feet has started to strip. Employed only on weekends when she does a bit of domestic work, Lewis said she has found it hard to find the sum of money needed. The baby's father, is also employed, but even so, they are having it hard. The couple has two other children.

The tests should have been done in May and is needed before doctors can begin to properly treat little Nickeisha. Anyone willing to help Nickiesha may contact her mother at 360-2162 or contribute to NCB account number 854175475.