UHWI starts foundation for childhood cancer care

Having treated hundreds of children with cancer over her two decades in medicine, consultant at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) Dr Michelle Reece-Mills has taken a giant step to further help children stricken with cancer.

Reece-Mills is coordinating the establishment of the Courageous Kids Jamaica Cancer Foundation at the UHWI, to assist sick children in several areas of need.

As programme coordinator, the paediatric haematologist/oncologist is leading a team that includes Jessica Lauren, fundraising and development manager; Daniel Thomas, family support specialist; and Mary Vetory, communications and outreach officer.

“I want to announce that we at the University Hospital are starting a foundation for children with cancer; it’s going to be called the Courageous Kids Jamaica Cancer Foundation,” Reece-Mills, referred to as the kids’ cancer specialist, revealed during a Lion’s Club of Mona event celebrating cancer survivors at Moon Palace in Ocho Rios, St Ann last week.

Admitting she knows how intense things can become when a child has been diagnosed with cancer, Reece-Mills said the foundation will be offering help in the areas of respite care, genetic testing funding, financial assistance, psychological counselling, and bone marrow transplant support. She said the foundation will also be seeking better access to treatment overseas, as a work in progress.

“I want to hear your input about it; I want to see whether there is any aspect that we may need to strengthen,” she told the audience of parents and affected children, who were part of the Dream Weekend at Moon Palace, an annual feature where the hotel treats affected children and their families to complimentary weekends. This is in collaboration with the Lion’s Club of Mona, which was recognising Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

“Your journeys are really inspirational. So today is not just a celebration of survival, it’s a celebration of community, of feeling and the power that we have when we face hard battles,” Reece-Mills said.

SURVIVAL GAP WIDENED

Noting that the survival gap in Jamaica is not as good as First-World countries, Reece-Mills said this is because of several factors, including limited resources, inconsistency of medical supplies, and the difficulty of accessing treatment overseas.

The foundation’s website is currently up, and it states that, “We are dedicated to providing strength, care, and hope to children battling cancer and their families. Through compassionate programmes and community support, we stand beside families on their toughest journey. Our mission is simple yet powerful: to bring relief, courage, and love to children facing cancer, and to ensure families never walk this path alone.”

Childhood cancer in Jamaica is said to represent a significant health concern. Leukaemia, lymphoma, and brain tumours are the most common types of cancers affecting children in Jamaica.

Natalie Boreland, general manager of the Palace Foundation, said it was the fourth year that the foundation is collaborating with the Lion’s Club of Mona to host the event.

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