His mother, Urmilla Luckhoo, 28, of Edinburgh, East Bank Berbice told Stabroek News that the entire trip, including airline tickets, hotel accommodation and food would cost her almost $3M, according to estimates given by doctors. Her husband, Rishie Ragubar, a labourer at the Rose Hall Sugar Estate barely earns enough to take care of his family. The couple has three other children: Deolall, 9, Bhesham, 7 and six-year-old Aditya.
Urmilla said she “went around” to a few persons to solicit assistance for the surgery but all she managed to raise so far was $167,000. She is appealing to the public to contribute generously so her son’s pain can be over. She said Udesh had undergone an echocardiogram and was diagnosed with an enlarged right ventricle as well as dilated right atrium and right ventricle. A report, signed by Dr. Zamara and Dr. Bowman stated that the child, a patient of the pediatric clinic at the Georgetown Public Hospital, would require palliative surgery such as a Blalock-Taussig anastomosis, which is not available in Guyana.
Recalling when her son’s troubles started, Urmilla said when he was nine-months-old he developed a “blowing.” Thinking he had contracted a cold, she took him to the doctor for treatment. At age one-and-a-half, the blowing started again and it was then that his mother noticed that his lips and fingernails had gotten blue. She said he would walk a short distance and would get tired and “pant for breath.” At times too “his tongue does burst up and he can’t able eat.” She said when that happens she feels helpless and confused. “Me can’t bear to see he in so much pain. Anywhere that people direct me to go and get help for he me does go,” she added.
She took him to the New Amsterdam Hospital and he was referred to the George-town Public Hospital.
After the diagnosis Urmilla said she asked the doctors if the child would require treatment and they responded that “the only treatment is sur-gery.” The woman said she is trying desperately to raise the money. She has approached places like the Rotary Club of New Amsterdam, Lions Club, St. Francis Com-munity Developers and the New Jersey Arya Samaj Mandir for help but has not received any from them so far.
Urmilla’s mother, Basmattie Thomas of Reliance, East Canje told this newspaper that she accompanied her daughter to a few other business places to solicit help but were accused of wanting “to make profit off the child.” She pointed out that that happens because some persons collect money under false pretence. Among the persons they received donations from were Captain Zakaria El Dip and his wife Anjte El Dip of the Oldendorff Bauxite Company. The couple also promised to provide further help upon their return from a trip to Holland. The El Dibs also forwarded the child’s information to this newspaper to ensure that his plight is publicised so he can “get the help he deserves.”
Urmilla has started an account for her son at Republic Bank and said persons who wish to donate towards his surgery can do so at account # 752-472-1. She can also be contacted on telephone numbers 687-3038 and 690-0016.
