VANNESSA Brooks has been given a new lease on life.

On September 29, she received desperately needed surgery to counter her life-threatening cancer and is currently recovering in Columbus, Ohio.

She is expected to return to the island in a month’s time.

Vannessa was diagnosed in June 2004 with nasopharyngeal cancer. The tumour develops in the nasopharynx, which is in the back part of the nose where it opens into the upper throat.

This is also where tubes from your ears open into your throat.

The four-hour surgery to remove the malignant tumour that affected her breathing and swallowing was done at the Arthur James Cancer Institute for Children in Columbus, Ohio in the United States.

However, months ago Vannessa’s family feared that the 11-year-old youngster would not have lived to celebrate her 12th birthday because they were unable to afford the cost for the surgery on their own.

Vannessa’s mother Avalyn Mulgrave was then encouraged to seek assistance from the Alumina Partners of Jamaica (Alpart) in Nain, where the general manager, employees, and the Alpart Community Council contributed US$2,500 to the fund opened for Vannessa.

Alpart also contributed $115,000 to cover the cost of the surgery as well as accommodation expenses.

Vannessa’s family also received assistance from individuals overseas who learnt of her illness through an article that appeared in the Observer in February this year.

Several bank accounts were also opened, giving Jamaicans the opportunity to invest in saving the life of the youngster.

One such Jamaican, who responded, was Arlington Myers, a St Elizabeth native who moved to the US more than 20 years ago.

Myers contributed US$6,000 to cover other hospital expenses. Additionally, he paid $21,000 to secure a place at Hampton High School in Malvern, St Elizabeth for Vannessa, after she scored in the 80 percentile range in four of five GSAT subjects and for the fifth subject, Communication Tasks, she received a score of 11 points out of a possible 12, despite her illness.

Myers, a single father of three boys, works in the automobile industry. He said after reading the article on Vannessa he felt compelled to help.

“On February 2, 2005 I was reading the Observer via the Internet and I came upon the headline ‘Little Vannessa Brooks needs a new lease on life’.

This story caught my undivided attention at 3:00 am and I called the phone number that was listed in the story,” Myers recalled in an e-mail.

“Miss Mulgrave, Vannessa’s mother, answered the call and I informed her of the reason I was calling. I could feel the relief coming from her voice.”

Additionally, Myers said he wrote a letter of assurance to the US Embassy in Kingston saying he would take full responsibility for the two during their stay in the United States.

Vannessa is now recovering with her mother at the home of Princess Davis, who has volunteered to take them in for as long as it takes for Vannessa to recuperate.

Dr Richard Khang, otolaryngologist, will manage her post-operative care.

Myers has extended his appreciation to Dr Henry Schuller, Dr Terry Davis, Khang, clinical coordinator Mary Jane, and other staff at the hospital that contributed to the success of Vannessa’s surgery.

He also highlighted a few individuals and organisations in Jamaica such as the Black River police department that raised $30,000 and Air Jamaica, which donated air fare for Vannessa and her mother.

“I want to thank the Observer in a special way because without their story on February 2, we could not give Vannessa a new lease on life,” he said.

davidsont@jamaicaobserver.com