Jamaica – In a heart-wrenching turn of events, Antonette Wilson, the mother of 15-year-old Kemar Wallace, is appealing for public assistance to secure essential medical equipment for her son’s ongoing recovery following a devastating diving accident earlier this year. Kemar has been left paralysed from the incident, which occurred on March 31st during a trip to a river in St Ann. The accident resulted in two broken neck bones, severely affecting the blood flow to his organs.
Critical Medical Needs
After undergoing life-saving surgery and extensive treatment at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Kemar is ready to be discharged. However, his safe transition home hinges on acquiring a suction machine priced at J$57,000. This machine is paramount to keeping his airway clear of mucus, now necessary since the tracheostomy tube that initially helped him breathe has been removed.
Emotional and Physical Challenges
The young boy’s road to recovery includes battling emotional and psychological hurdles. According to Wilson, Kemar, usually full of life and jokes, has shown signs of mental distress during his prolonged hospital stay. “Sometimes he will still run his joke but then at other times he will not talk. Sometimes when he is sleeping, he will jump up like he is panicking,” shared Wilson.
Kemar’s frustration and longing for the familiarity and comfort of home have taken a toll on him. “Since recently him not eating and the social worker at the hospital ask what me think why him not eating and me tell him that him probably want come home,” Wilson recounted. “Him feel like him nah get the attention him supposed to a get. And him want come home because him feel like it would a much better at home and get the care him think him should a get,” she added.
Efforts to Regain Mobility
Despite his severe condition, the teenager has shown promising signs of recovery. After surgery and initial physical therapy sessions, Kemar has regained some mobility in one hand, and a finger on his other hand has also started moving. The goal now is to continue physical therapy at a rehabilitation facility as soon as space is available.
Additional Equipment Required
In addition to the suction machine, Kemar requires a high back wheelchair to support his spine since he currently cannot sit up on his own. Unfortunately, Wilson’s efforts to obtain the wheelchair through a social worker have so far been unsuccessful.
Appeal for Support
Antonette Wilson passionately appeals to the public for assistance to help bring her son home, where she believes he can recover more effectively. “I want him come home so he can push himself better and perform much better,” she said. “So me woulda need the help fi get the suction machine and the wheelchair to get him home and make him feel more cheerful and give him the drive and push like what he had at the beginning of the incident.”
How to Help
Anyone willing to assist in purchasing the suction machine and the high back wheelchair for Kemar Wallace’s recovery can make donations through the following:
- Account Name: Antonette Wilson
- Bank: National Commercial Bank (NCB)
- Branch: Burke Road, Spanish Town
- Account Number: 475009614
Let us come together to aid a young boy’s journey towards recovery and brighten his future. Every contribution counts.
