NA Lions Club donates to heart patient

Living up to its motto “We Serve,” the New Amsterdam Lions Club on Friday last presented a cheque for $40,000 to Melissa Chase of Canefield, East Canje.

Chase’s two-year-old daughter Lydia has been diagnosed with congenital heart disease and is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery in India in February 2014.
Although Chase has received partial assistance from the Ministry of Health to facilitate her daughter’s surgery in India, she is still required to accumulate some $1.5M on her own and is finding it difficult to do so. She had launched a public appeal for financial help in February, but to date has made little progress.

The New Amsterdam Lions Club was one of the first groups to come forward and assist. Lion Marlyn La Rose, the co-chairperson of the club’s health committee in handing over the cheque to the child’s mother said, “We are so happy that we could help Ms Chase with a donation towards the surgery for her child.”

NA Lions Club President, Georgina Hoosley (left) presenting the cheque to Melissa Chase in the presence of other Lions members 
NA Lions Club President, Georgina Hoosley (left) presenting the cheque to Melissa Chase in the presence of other Lions members 

La Rose stated that the club had acquired the money through two fund raisers held recently. Offering words of encouragement to the Chase family, she said, “I trust that what we have given to you is a stepping stone for what she needs and that others will follow suit and help. We are praying for her speedy recovery.”

Overwhelmed by the kind gesture, Melissa Chase expressed heartfelt thanks to the club and presented them with a thank you card saying, “Thank you for this donation. My family and I will never forget you and how you helped us in our time of need.”

Chase has less than six months to raise the $1.5M needed for her daughter’s surgery. She is fearful that if she does not acquire the necessary finances in time, her daughter’s surgery will be rescheduled and the second time around might be too late to save Lydia’s life. Lydia’s trip to India is being organised by the Three Rivers Kids’ Foundation, which has also agreed to assist Melissa Chase with accommodation while in India. Persons desirous of assisting Lydia can contact Chase on cell phone 679-0063.