Pacemaker sourced for 5-y-o Jermaine Taylor
Diaspora rallies for infant with heart defect
Published:Wednesday | April 19, 2023 | 1:33 AMLester Hinds/Gleaner Writer
Five-year-old Jermaine Taylor, who was born with a heart defect, is set to receive a pacemaker, following The Gleaner’s publication of his story last week.
Doctors at the Bustamante Children’s Hospital for Children will perform the surgery to implant the device, which was sourced in the United States.
Alsion Roach Wilson, Jamaica’s consul general in New York, was instrumental in securing the funds after Jermaine’s plight was brought to her attention by Dr Robert Clarke, head of Help Jamaica Medical Mission.
“The funds have been donated and we are working out the logistics of getting the device to Jamaica,” she said.
Jermaine’s mother, Lorraine Haye, told The Gleaner that she could not be happier at the news.
“The entire family is happy,” said the grateful mom.
Haye said that Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson-Smith has notified her of the development.
“She told me that I have one thing less to worry about,” said Haye, who gave thanks to The Gleaner and all the people who rallied to get the device for her son.
Haye said that Jermaine’s heart defect was discovered two weeks after birth. He was then transferred from the Victoria Jubilee Hospital to the Bustamante Children’s Hospital, where he had a pacemaker implanted.
FUNCTIONING POORLY
“His heart function is very poor right now,” his mother said, however, as the family went to the public seeking US$22,100 to purchase a new device.
Clarke praised the efforts of the consul general in securing the funds, and noted that once it was brought to her attention, she did not hesitate to get involved.
“She really went above and beyond to help, and I must give her the credit for responding in the positive manner in which she did,” he said.
Clarke said once the device has been implanted, he will be monitoring Jermaine’s progress to ensure that things are going well with him.
Consul General Roach Wilson said that the Bustamante Hospital has indicated that a number of other children, including a one-month-old, are also in need of devices. She said that funds left over from last year 60th Independence Gala in New York will be used to purchase another device.