Wishes granted!
8-y-o Azayla gets million-dollar boost in battle against illness from NCB Foundation
Published:Friday | December 22, 2023 | 12:09 AMChristopher Serju/Senior Gleaner Writer
The early-morning journey from Green Island, Hanover, to the NCB Wellness and Recreation Centre in St Andrew on Thursday was well worth the time spent preparing for the trip by the Mendez family as they joined other finalists in the NCB Foundation’s Grant A Wish reveal event.
There, it was disclosed that eight-year-old Azayla Mendez was one of the winners, having topped the votes in her category for a $1 million donation. Second-place category winners were rewarded with $500,000, and $250,000 went to the third-place recipients.
Azayla’s father Fabian, mother Tashel, and younger sister Azah-la were on hand to share in the happy occasion.
Speaking with The Gleaner afterwards, Mrs Mendez declared that a wheelchair to transport Azayla was the priority item for the family, given the difficulty in lifting her from one place to the other throughout the day. A wheelchair, she said, would bring immediate relief for the young girl and her caregivers.
Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth, Azayla can’t do anything for herself, her mother explained.
“She cannot sit up, walk, or eat. She cannot eat, cannot chew,” Mrs Mendez said.
The eight-year-old’s meals comprised baby formula entirely.
In addition, she also needs disposable diapers and wipes.
Thankfully, her grandmother and other family members have rallied to support the family, providing a cadre of helping hands. Still, Mr Mendez has had to take a night job, while his wife works during the day, in order to ensure that one of them is always on hand to care for their daughter.
“There is no treatment for her condition. Her brain is completely damaged,” Mrs Mendez further shared with The Gleaner, adding that her daughter defied the odds by surviving at birth.
Diagnosed with meconium aspiration syndrome, which occurs when a newborn breathes a mixture of meconium (first faeces or stool of the newborn) and amniotic fluid into the lungs, around the time of delivery, Azayla’s prospects were blighted from then.
“She had multiple strokes then,” Mrs Mendez recalled. “Now, this money will help us a lot because we had been planning to get a wheelchair because she is weighty and it will also support her other needs.”
The Grant A Wish recipients were selected from among individuals and entities placed in the categories of charities, schools and technology, community heroes, persons with disabilities, and medical assistance. The charities had to be registered organisations seeking additional funding. For schools and technology, it had to be institutions needing improvements in their computer lab facilities or to provide students with laptops or tablets. Community heroes were selected on the basis of individuals who demonstrate extraordinary dedication and selflessness in addressing social, environmental, or humanitarian issues to improve and uplift their communities.
To qualify, persons with disabilities had to show need in terms of additional support, accommodation, or services due to physical, intellectual, emotional, or developmental challenges or disabilities. Persons qualifying under medical assistance would have to need help with medical expenses, and the fund would be paid directly to the medical facility or pharmacy where applicable.
Sharon Williams of the NCB Foundation, who chaired the function, disclosed that there were at least 500 nominations, with more than 6,000 people voting this year.