Soon after St Gabriel Primary student Sophia Kerr entered her online classes as per normal last Monday morning her father heard her yelling that she couldn’t see anything.
The man, Oliver Kerr, initially thought his daughter was experiencing problems with her internet connection but the child quickly clarified that her vision was gone.
The man told Stabroek News that he rushed his daughter to the Woodlands Hospital, where they were given the grim news that Sophia was completely blind in her right eye and that she would need emergency surgery only available in Trinidad to save the vision in her left eye.
The doctor’s diagnosis was retinal detachment in both eyes. According to the Mayo Clinic website, retinal detachment is an emergency situation in which a thin layer of tissue (the retina) at the back of the eye pulls away from its normal position. Retinal detachment separates the retinal cells from the layer of blood vessels that provides oxygen and nourishment. The longer retinal detachment goes untreated, the greater the risk of permanent vision loss in the affected eye.
The cost of the surgery in Trinidad US$5,000 and according to the senior Kerr the family has approached the Ministry of Health and officials have agreed to cover the cost. But the airline tickets for little Sophia and her mother, Philippa Kerr, along with financing for their accommodation and food would have to be covered by the family.
Oliver Kerr himself has been visually impaired since he was a child and is self-employed at the moment and his income coupled with that which his wife earns as a member of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is not sufficient to cover the needed expenses.
While the Kerrs are unclear as to how long they may have to remain in Trinidad, that will be determined after the ministry pays for the surgery, which is expected to be done in the new week, they are hoping that persons would be moved to support them in their time of need. As a result, the parents with Sophia, and her little brother Oliver Jnr have started making the rounds to the various media houses with the aim of having their plight highlighted so that they can raise the needed funds.
“It is really important for me to have my eyes so I can go to school. I am very sad. I want to go back to school because I want to study and get my education…,” little Sophia said.
She later indicated that she wants to become a doctor someday.
The senior Kerr believes that his daughter’s vision problem is hereditary since he was told that his paternal grandfather had an issue as well. However, his father was not blind and while some of his siblings wear glasses none have been totally blind like him.
“I take it really hard because she now losing her sight at nine is like I am seeing myself all over again and I don’t want that for her,” he said.
Over the years he has also been attached to the Guyana Institute for the Blind and the difficulties that the visually-impaired experience have been reinforced to him and it is something he does not wish for his children to have to experience.
His son, Oliver Jnr, who is seven years, has also shown some issues with his eyes and would need surgery as well.
“It is a good thing we catch his early and he would soon get surgery right here and then he would have to wear glasses. But Sophia we catch her own too late and now she have to get the surgery overseas and only one eye can get save,” he said.
He recalled that about two years ago Sophia had an issue in school where she was hit in the eye by another child and she was taken to the doctor. They were informed that the muscles in the eyes were weak and she would need glasses to strengthen them.
“So she wearing the glasses but we never know the eye was getting worse and that she was blind in the right eye until last Monday,” the man said sadly.
“We just asking the Guyanese public to support us to take her to Trinidad for the surgery,” he continued as it was noted that Sophia performs very well in school and it is hoped that she continue to get the chance to excel.
The family has an account at the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Ltd (#001061761011) through which persons can make donations and they can also be contacted via telephone numbers 667-6292 and 642-7778.
