FORMER NATIONAL midfielder Wayne Palmer, who recently had surgery after being diagnosed with colon cancer, remains as upbeat and cheerful as always despite the life-threatening illness and mounting medical bills.
Although experiencing some pain, the 55-year-old has his sights set on returning to the training pitch to continue helping development of his young charges at Jamaica College and Emmanuel Christian Academy.
Nevertheless, he admits it will take some time.
To get back fully on his feet, Palmer needs to undergo chemotherapy, for which he thought he would be able to handle expenses, but his rapidly increasing bills are proving otherwise.
As a result, Gregory Jones of Emmanuel Christian Academy has set up a RealHelpingHands account, with a target of US$10,000, in an effort to assist the former player with his medical expenses.
“The fund was set up by Greg Jones of Emmanuel Academy. I have no problem with it. I wasn’t really thinking of going out to seek help. I was just trying to do what I can but then I started to see the bills and I realised that I am going to need help. So I would really appreciate anyone who comes on board,” Palmer told The Sunday Gleaner.
The wily midfielder said his first bill amounted to $200,000, the second to $375,000 and that do not include the surgery and chemotherapy.
“Recently, I did two blood tests and I will have to do more, and I will have to give them money to send off the things, and to do a CT scan to see how it has progressed. But I leave it all in the Father’s hands,” he insists.
“I am in high spirits. I am not fretting or anything. I believed in God and a lot of people are praying for me and the parents and the kids have been calling and that keeps me in good spirits. Sometimes the pain gets a bit much but I have painkillers. I am just glad it didn’t get out of hand.”
Palmer recalled that while he started feeling symptoms earlier this year, it was only when he decided to return to playing Master’s League football a couple months ago and started to do some running to get into shape that he realised that something was wrong.
On his first evening of training, Palmer said his chest got tight and he felt pain in his stomach and decided to stop.
Palmer didn’t take it seriously, but then the same symptoms showed up the following day when he, again, tried to run.
“I felt a bit puffy and a sticking pain in my left side,” he recalled.
His visits to numerous doctors revealed nothing until Jamaica College Manning Cup team manager Ian Forbes recommended him to Medical Associates, where it was decided that the only option left was to test his colon.
“I was sent to UWI (hospital) with a referral and they did a check-up and then a colonoscopy and a CT scan which confirm I had colon cancer.”
Fortunately, the cancer was caught in its early stage; however, the start of Palmer’s chemotherapy treatment has been pushed back to the July 28 because of a delay in information the hospital requires from overseas.
Although in high spirits, he fully understands the seriousness of his illness and insists he is following his doctor’s orders as his aim is to be back on the field as soon as possible.
“I have to take care of myself. I will have to change my diet, because I have a sweet tooth. I can eat a whole cake or a box of ice cream. But I have decided to give up certain food and I know all this will take time.
“If I was not ill I would be out there on the field but I am just taking it easy. The doctors don’t want me to exert myself, although walking makes me feel better, but anything they say I will follow their orders.
“But I never knew I was so strong. I tell myself that I am not sick and that I am better. I am very upbeat,” he said.
Palmer, one of Jamaica’s most talented midfielders of the 1980s and ’90s, played locally for clubs such as Cavalier, Taurus United, Port Morant All Stars and Galaxy United. He represented the national team from 1992-98.