Father pleads for help for ailing daughter

Enroy Findlay has done just about all he can do, to assist his daughter, who is in dire need of a kidney transplant.{{more}}

He is now at the point where he may have to sell the only valuable material possession he has left – his house.

The Redemption Sharpes resident is desperate for support to assist his 21-year-old daughter, Ayana Findlay, with her medical expenses, and more so, a new kidney.

Since 2008, Ayana has been fighting for her life and if urgent medical attention is not received soon, she might just lose that fight.

Findlay told SEARCHLIGHT that it is “rough” having to pay for Ayana to have the required dialysis three times a week, at a cost of $500 per session.

Ayana began her dialysis sessions in 2012, but, with the financial constraints her father faces, he can only allow her to have dialysis twice per week.

He confessed that it has reached the stage where he credited one of her dialysis sessions.

“It ain’t healthy to trust (credit), because if you can’t pay for one, you can’t pay two. Another week coming up and no money ain’t reach yet,” Findlay disclosed.

Besides doing dialysis, Findlay said he also has to pay for monthly blood tests which cost up to $500.

About seven months ago, Findlay, who operated a minibus in the Redemption Sharpes area, had to give that up, because of circulation problems he is experiencing in his leg.

“The doctor told me to come off my foot, but I told him, straight up, that that is impossible, but I really can’t drive. It is too much trouble for me.”

With mounting bills and limited financial income, things took an even uglier turn for the father of two, when the bank recently repossessed his omnibus – Ayana’s sole means of transportation to and from her dialysis treatment.

“I’m bankrupt right now and some of my bills have even been disconnected. On top of that, my van is gone… I [am] in a really bad, bad situation right now. All I have is my little house now. Just now, I might have to look for a valuator to see if I could get it valued to see how much I get for it and sell it. That might be the next thing in the newspaper…,” Findlay said, his voice cracking.

However, Findlay is not giving up on the fight to save his daughter’s life.

“It ain’t easy to give up on your child. I just can’t. I’m going to see what I could do. I still have to give God thanks for the people who have assisted in any little way.”

According to Ayana, her kidney problems began worsening in 2010 when she was in her first year at the Community College.

She said in 2008, she was only experiencing nephrotic syndrome, which caused protein to leak from her kidney. She travelled to Barbados to seek medical treatment and was told by medical practitioners that there was no evidence of anything wrong.

The past student of the Girls’ High School said since that time, she has been experiencing shortness of breath, constant headaches, a weakened immune system, low blood pressure, among other medical problems.

Ayana further indicated that she is stable enough to undergo the transplant and that her mother is willing to give her a kidney, but her mother was told by doctors that she has to lose about 30 pounds.

“Even after that, she has to do tests overseas, which will run up to $15,000 and the transplant itself is over EC$160,000,” Ayana said.

While he is soliciting the public’s help, Findlay is doing as much as he can, on his own, to help with the expenses.

Since his van was repossessed, he opened a food parlour just in front of Coreas Lumber yard.

“I’m not really trying to sit and wait on anyone. We just trying our best to help her. But we know how the economy is and it rough…,” Findlay said.

Persons desirous of making a contribution may contact Findlay or Ayana at telephone numbers: 455-9551, 431-4964 and 457-9849.

Donations may also be made at RBTT to account number 1400100000053128.