Rockel Gladstone, of Kimbia, Berbice River, left yesterday morning to undergo a kidney transplant operation in India that it is expected to end years of pain and suffering she has endured.
Her donor is her father, Frank Gladstone, who told Stabroek News in an interview on Thursday that he was more than happy to be able to bring an end his daughter’s discomfort. Rockel’s brother, Randy Gladstone would also be accompanying them on the trip, which has been facilitated by the Three Rivers Kids Foundation (TRKF), a charitable organization based in Ontario, Canada. The transplant would take place at the Batra Hospital in Delhi and the Gladstones are expected to stay in India for six weeks.
The third sibling among her four brothers, Rockel had spent a few months in Barbados to receive treatment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital after her condition had worsened last year. The Kimbia, Berbice River resident was diagnosed with kidney failure early last year after years of poor health. She had been undergoing dialysis treatment twice weekly since then but her family struggled to cover the costs, which amounted to about $80,000 weekly for two dialysis sessions including transportation costs from Berbice to the city.
In a statement, Jeanette Singh, head of the TRKF, said she met the Gladstone family in June. “Rockel held both my hands, looked at me in the eyes and said ‘you are the only one who can help me, you have to help’ in her quiet and ladylike manner” said Singh. “I felt her pain and suffering, I could see it in her eyes. I saw the desperation. I promised her that I would get her out of Guyana by ending of July.
While the young woman would be travelling to India, Satish Gobin, 19, of Anna Catherina who underwent a successful kidney transplant on June 23, would be returning. Satish is due to return to Guyana on Sunday [today] to begin his new life, Singh also noted in the statement. The cost of his trip to India was given as approximately US$36,000, with the Ministry of Health contributing $5000 and the charity providing the remainder.
Rockel’s father was very grateful to Singh for the help and support she provided. He also expressed appreciation to Digicel, Bakewell, Farfan & Mendez, Nigel’s Super-market, Marlon Kertzious, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and the Seventh Day Adventist at Philadelphia St. and other churches along with the staff of the dialysis centre. He also wished to thank Derek Lindie and family of Georgetown for providing transportation while Rockel was undergoing dialysis and his sister Iona in Barbados as well as to a “lot of other kind-hearted persons who helped us.”
Meanwhile, Singh also extended gratitude to persons who made contributions. She singled out Taiwo Stuart-Worrell of Caribbean Airlines for all the help she has provided and continues to provide the Foundation over the years.
However, Singh also urged the public to be cautious when responding to appeals of such a nature as unscrupulous persons have solicited money for their own means. She advised the public to contact the Foundation at telephone number 225-7758 or at its website, www.threeriverskidsfoundation.org. Singh also advised against making cash donations, explaining that persons who wish to contribute large sums of money should consider making a draft payable to the hospital where the patient is going to be treated. “Ask for documentation…. Ask for a telephone number,” she said.
