OVERSEAS treatment has been recommended for International Radio Cricket Broadcaster Sean Devers after the former Guyana Under-19 cricketer was diagnosed by Jamaica based Brain Surgeon Professor Crandon with Glioma. A Glioma is a type of tumor that starts in the brain or spine and was given the name because it arises from glial cells, with the most common site of Glioma being found in the brain.

Devers who was struck unconscious while playing in a club cricket match as a 16-year-old suffered two seizures in late December and another earlier this month, before a CT scan and two MRIs indicated the tumor is  in his left brain.

The father of three who will celebrate his 42nd birthday on February 8 missed the recent Caribbean CT20 cricket tournament in Antigua and Barbados due to his illness and is presently making arrangements to travel to either the USA or Jamaica for treatment.

Devers, who represented both Demerara and Berbice in cricket at the Senior Inter-County level in Guyana is also a Sports Journalist at the Kaieteur News and the cost for his surgery is estimated at US$100,000 (G$20M).

Already several entities including the Trinidad based West Indies Players Association (WIPA), the St Lucia based Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira Foundation, the local Cricket Umpires Association, the Ministry of Health, the Guyana cricket team, local cricket clubs and Guyanese cricket officials have promised support.

Devers who grew up in West Ruimveldt, said the Western Tigers Football team has offered to participate in a benefit match for his treatment while cricketers Ramnaresh Sarwan and Lennox Cush have pledged personal assistance to his surgery.

Devers also disclosed that veteran Guyanese cricket administrator Carl Moore informed him that National Coach Mark Harper was planning a T20 match with the Guyana team and the other reserved players in the country as a fund raiser for his overseas surgery.

The Malteenoes Sports Club, Gandhi Youth Organization (GYO) and Bermine Cricket Club in Berbice, all teams that Devers represented and even led at the first division level, has pledged to help the former national off-spinner while Director of Sports in the National Sports Commission (NSC) Neil Kumar has also promised support.

Devers commended the Minister of Health and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Georgetown Public Hospital for their personal intervention in his health care and was high in praise for Doctors Rambarran and Legall of the Georgetown Hospital for their assistance.

The Universal DVD Club in Berbice is also planning a fund raiser for Devers while telethons on Georgetown and Berbice television stations to help acquire the high cost for his treatment are being planned.
Devers said the support of his mother, USA based father, brother, sisters, eldest son and especially Cricket officials Ramsay Ali and Bissoondyal Singh along with cricket commentator Barbadian Andrew Mason has helped to keep him positive during this testing period.

Devers said Pastor Michael Sammy from the Elim Church in Timehri and Father Persaud from the Brickdam Cathedral have provided inspirational words and commended the Kaieteur News staff, especially owner Glen Lall, for their support.

“I try not to get depressed since doctors say a positive mindset is important but at times when I am alone I can’t help feeling scared. However I know once you have faith in the almighty God any miracle is possible, with my miracle waiting for me right around the corner” disclosed Devers.