AN 11-year-old girl who is blind in the right eye and whose vision is seriously threatened in the left is desperately in need of financial help to meet the cost of urgent ophthalmic surgery to be performed in Trinidad. To this end, Paul Cottam, father of 11-year-old Paula Cottam of 127 East Ruimveldt, who is himself visually impaired, is appealing to civic-minded persons to come to her rescue soonest, since her surgery is due to be performed within the next three weeks.
For the Grade Six pupil of St. Angela’s Primary School, Thomas Street, preparing to write the National Grade Six Assessment Tests  within a week-and-a half (April 4 and 5,) the mere assurance that the total amount of money for her surgery and related expenses would be met within the scheduled time frame would be a relief.
Paula, who is completely blind in the right eye, was reviewed by Dr.  Shailendra Sugrim last January. According to Dr. Sugrim’s report, “the 11-year-old has a history of blurry vision in the left eye. She has cataract with a blind right eye since age seven.”  Her father has a history of Enucleation to the right eye and aphakia to the left eye, with retinal degeneration among other things. She lost vision in her right eye as a result of a complicated cataract.
The child has now been recommended by Dr. Sugrim for Vireto – Retinal Surgery under General Anaesthetic. The operating physician is Dr. Bruno Mitchell of Port of Spain Eye Clinic, and the surgery is to be conducted at the Community Hospital of Seventh Day Adventists, St. James, Trinidad.
The cost of surgery is US$3,300, in addition to another US$25 as cost of medication. Of this amount, the Ministry of Health will contribute US$2,000. Other expenses such as travel for both the patient and her sister who will accompany her, as well as accommodation and meals will also have to be raised by the patient’s family. The family wishes to thank those persons who have already made donations, but implore others who have not yet done so, to give generously.
Persons wishing to make donations are kindly asked to deposit such monies into Republic Bank Account 244-4065.
In a brief invited comment to the Guyana Chronicle on Monday, Paula, who aspires to become a lawyer, said her one wish at this time is that persons would come forward and help her raise the money required for her surgery so as to enable her to continue her studies and write and pass her examinations. It is her ambition to live an independent life and be able to help her father who is also physically challenged with irreversible degeneration of his sight over the last six years.
Paula, who, along with her father Paul Cottam, visited this newspaper Monday, was focused, as she, with vision in only one eye, guided the visually impaired man around.  However, the child, over the last few weeks has become very withdrawn, and once seated, assumes a somber and rather pensive disposition. Because of her state, she has difficulty reading and seeing on the chalk-board.