FIRST LADY, Deolatchmi Ramotar yesterday joined members of the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) at a fund raising event in supporting a nine-year old cancer patient who is suffering from a rare bone cancer found mainly in children.

The life of nine-year old Javier Anderson of West Bank Demerara had a complete turnaround after he was diagnosed with a bone cancer in December, 2013.
Javier Anderson, a student of the North Georgetown Primary School, averages 90% in his academic performance.
According to his mother, Lizzana Anderson, she and her son were invited by the PYO to have a first-hand experience of the event held in his honour.
The PYO sold juices, cakes, hot dogs and other sweets to passers-by on Water Street in front of the Republic Bank location.
Lizzana Anderson said that since her son was diagnosed in December, he had three surgeries, two of which included the removal of 10 cm of bone from his left leg followed by a another surgery which dealt with the amputation of the entire left leg from the hip.
At present he is in need of a specialised prosthetic leg which is not manufactured in Guyana but only available in the United States at this point.
However, while the health professional in the United States has indicated that based on what they have heard of the child’s condition they are in a position to have his leg prepared but they must first examine him.
That is where the challenge for the mother of two comes in since she does not have all the money to cover the airfare, medical bills and accommodation costs for her and her child. She along with her son, are also not holders of United States visas and as such would need to apply to the United States Embassy.
The challenges do not stop there for the mother of the sick child as she indicated to the Guyana Chronicle that she has since been able to raise just over $600,000 to assist the process but has no clear figure given as to the cost of the entire operation.
Anderson told the Chronicle that the doctors in the United States have indicated that they would only be able to tell her the cost for the surgery when they would have been able to see the child’s condition and examine him since the specialised leg cannot be made without the patient being examined.
Another bugbear for the family is the fact that the mother has been having the devil’s own job and getting the support from the father of the child who has been reluctant to sign certain very important papers to facilitate the process of his son travelling to the United States to have his illness treated.
It was also communicated to this publication that while the young man looks very healthy and is alert and up and about, the cancer has since spread to his lungs which means that very soon he will have to begin chemotherapy.
After listening to the concerns of the woman, Guyana‘s First Lady, Deolatchmi Ramotar pledged her support to the young man and his mother.
Madame Ramotar promised to speak with the father and have him understand the importance of the need for his child to seek the medical attention overseas.
She expressed optimism that she will be able to influence the gentlemen to give the mother of his child the support needed to address the chronic illness his son is battling with.
Written By Leroy Smith