Worried mum fighting to save son’s eyesight
Published:Friday | October 4, 2024 | 12:09 AMAshley Anguin/Gleaner Writer
Western Bureau:
Fascinated by cars, riding his bicycle, and harbouring dreams of becoming a police officer, four-year-old Zyair Codner is looking forward to living his best life.
Unfortunately, Zyair’s future is now looking uncertain as after his vision became blurry, which resulted in multiple eye tests over the past year, he was diagnosed with retinal detachment and is now on the verge of becoming blind unless he gets an expensive eye operation immediately.
“The operation is J$3 million for both eyes. J$1.5 million each if I can do both eyes at the same time,” said Bertina Pringle, whose preferred option for Zyair, who is her only child, is to have both eyes done at once.
With Zyair’s father not playing an active role in his life, the 22-year-old Pringle, who is not able to keep a steady job because of the hands-on care required by her son, is now struggling financially and is desperately in need of help to give her child a fighting chance of saving his sight.
Pringle is in a race against time as according to her, based on the severity of his diagnosis, it is recommended that little Zyair have the high-risk surgery done this month.
“I don’t know how long he has with his vision, when will it come to an end,” said Pringle, who, seemingly, was quite worried as she spoke. “He won’t be able to ride his bicycle or play with his favourite toys. Thoughts flash through my mind with him getting up and screaming. It is taking a toll on me mentally because most of the time, that is all I think about.”
According to the Ohio, United States-based Cleveland Clinic, which specialises in a variety of health issues, including specialist eye care, retinal detachment is a painless but serious eye condition, which happens when the retina, the layer of tissue at the back of the eye, detaches from the tissues that support it. A detached retina affects vision and can lead to blindness.
Zyair’s condition was first noticed when he was seen squinting his eyes and unable to find things that should have been in his line of vision. A slow talker until age three, he would also cry about his eyes hurting and beg his mother to take him to the doctor.
EXTREMELY HARD
At school, his teachers also noticed that it was becoming increasingly challenging for him to navigate his way in the classroom. In fact, he had to stand directly in front of the learning board to see what was on it.
“He has to be tilting his head and his face directly in the book to write. It is extremely hard for him and as a child, he does not know how to explain or tell you that he isn’t seeing well. One day I tested him by covering his right eye, but he said, ‘Mommy, I can’t see anything out of my left eye’. This made me so emotional,” shared Pringle.
Reflecting on Zyair’s challenging year, Pringle eventually took him to the doctor to get an understanding of what was happening to him.
“The first clinic I took him to, I asked them if the baby had cast eyes, and if they are sure nothing extra is wrong with him. They assured me that he was okay, and he would grow it out,” Pringle told The Gleaner. “I didn’t stick to that because he is feeling some sort of pain based on what he is telling me. I went to Cornwall Regional Hospital, where they diagnosed him with cycloplegic refraction.”
Acting on a referral, Pringle took her son to Bustamante Children’s Hospital, which further referred her to the University Hospital of the West Indies’ eye clinic, where additional tests were done on him on August 28 last year.
“Every single month I travelled back and forth to Kingston to get his eyes tested to see how badly it is. I have been told multiple surgery dates, but none was ever done,” said Pringle, whose frustration grew with each new obstacle.
NOT SIMPLE
A veteran western Jamaica-based ophthalmologist, who asked not to be identified, told The Gleaner that the condition affecting Zyair can be corrected but it depends on the cause.
“It is not as simple as that because it depends on what is the cause of the detachment. For a four-year-old, an ultrasound would have to be done on the eyes to ascertain the cause of it. The longer it is detached, the worse the prognosis is,” the medical practitioner said.
Pringle has since reached out to Ophthalmic Suites in Kingston, which has a retinal specialist with the capacity to perform the surgery.
“They told me that his left eye is really bad, but if they get the chance to do the surgery, they would work on the right eye first because it is the one that is less deteriorating. Afterwards, they would concentrate on how best they can help the left eye. However, they do not take payment plans and need the money in full to proceed,” Pringle explained.
Like Pringle, the child’s grandmother, Barbara Moodie, is also very concerned about the cost of travel between Montego Bay and Kingston to address her grandson’s health. The cost, at times, is as much as J$80,000.
If you want to help Zyair Codner, you can contact his mother at 876-567-4204.
Account Details:
NCB: Baywest Branch
Name: Bertina Pringle
Account #: 494148617
Type: Savings
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