By Tracey Khan

HOW would you cope if you lost one of your leg at a young age?
Well, this is the reality that 10-year-old Brianna Nelson has to live with for the rest of her life as she fights to stay alive.

Most children her age are happy and healthy, as they prepare to transition to their teenage years, but Briana has to come to grips with the fact that she had to amputate her lower leg.

Despite this and other challenges, she is pursuing her education at the Cumberland Primary School in Canje, Berbice.

She was diagnosed with Sarcoma cancer last year and immediately after, doctors had to amputate one of her feet in an effort to save her life, but she is still not out of the woods.

Her 29-year-old mother, Amanda Prince, who works as a cleaner at Cumberland Secondary said her daughter is currently, “undergoing radiation therapy in Georgetown so she will be due for a full body check-up soon to see how that treatment has helped.”

In 2018, Briana’s heel began to swell and hurt uncontrollably. She was taken to the hospital repeatedly and doctors told the family she was suffering from a fracture.

Further tests at the Georgetown Public Hospital revealed the dreadful news. Her grandmother Sharon Blair spoke of the emotional and financial toll cancer is taking on her family.

“It is not easy, because some days when she come home and sleeping and you watch at her and remember she was born with two foot and now you got to watch a child with one and a half foot, it is very hard and tears come to our eyes often,” her grandmother said. “But she is making out okay she is very brave even though one and two time she would come home and say that the children does trouble she and take away the clutch.

We does normal tell she don’t bother with them and life goes on its not like she put the sickness on she self. We want the best for her because she’s an intelligent child and by the chemo that she take it drop she back a little in school because over six months she was in and out because of the pain she is experiencing.”

Brianna said there are days that she does not feel like attending school but understands that her education is important and she wants to make her family proud.

Persons who would like to help the family can call 617-8245 or 327-7528.