SIX-YEAR-OLD Mikye Thompson has been hearing impaired for four years and his only hope of correcting the problem is a surgery that is not performed in Jamaica.

His family cannot afford the cost of the operation and his mother, Juanita Henry, is appealing to the public for financial help to enable her child to regain his hearing.

At 15 months, Mikye was afflicted with meningitis and the disease has left him both deaf and dumb.

According to pediatrician, Dr Everton Hylton, the child’s only chance is a cochlea implant surgery as his cochlea has been severely damaged by the disease.

“This type of surgery is not done locally so he will have to get it done outside of Jamaica,” Dr Hylton told the Observer, adding that it would be a costly venture.

“Already, a possibility is identified and the surgery can be done in the United States at an overall cost of US$99,000.

The actual cost of the surgery is US$60,000 while the rest of the money is needed for speech therapy and other related expenses once his hearing is reactivated,” Hylton said.

Myke’s mother said that those persons wishing to lend financial support can do so via an account at the RBTT in Savanna-La-Mar.

The account was opened under the name, ‘The Mikye Thompson Trust Fund. .The number is 0341090034602.

Juanita has two other children, ages 11 and 12 but considers Mikye a miracle baby, who survived despite complications at birth.

A cesarean section had to be performed, she said, as the umbilical cord was wrapped five times around the foetus.

Mikye later started walking at six-months old but at 15 months old, what his parents thought a simple cold, turned out to be meningitis — a disease that robbed him of his ability to hear.

In an interview with the Observer, Dr Hylton said the disease can leave the patient deaf, blind, mentally retarded and dead.

“A vaccine is the most effective way of preventing meningitis and in the case of Mikye, he did not receive the vaccine,” he said.

The pediatrician said Mikye visited a public clinic, which did not offer the meningitis vaccine, and the result is clear.

It is against this background that Dr Hylton cautions mothers to be aware of the different vaccines their babies require and ensure they receive them.

“If the clinic does not offer it, find a private doctor and get your child immunised,” he warned.

Meanwhile, Miyke’s mother and other family members have to deal with the frustrating results of his limitations each day and it is not easy.

“Mikye is unable to communicate with children around,” his mother said sadly. “He can’t understand them and they can’t understand him so he watches their expression. If they smile, he smiles but if they look angry he bangs himself on the ground, throws things around and sometimes breaks things.”

Added Juanita: “Sometimes it is frustrating to deal with him, especially when he wants things and you don’t know what he wants.”

His uncle Easton Henry, who also deals with the child daily, said it was painful to see his condition.

“It is very painful sometimes when I see the condition Mikye is in,” he lamented. “Sometimes it brings tears to my eyes, knowing that you want to speak to him and he cannot hear.”

And members of the community who know of the plight of Mikye and his family are longing for the day when the little boy will again be able to hear and speak.

It is with this day in mind that the trust fund has been set up and a range of fund-raising activities planned.

Last Saturday, for example, there was a gospel concert at Manning’s School auditorium and the proceeds went towards the fund. The next fund-raiser will be a raffle, which is to followed by a walkathon and then a dinner.

Community groups like the Savanna-la-Mar Police Youth Club, West TV and other support groups are pulling out all the stops to give Mikye a chance at a normal life.