CAMBRIDGE, St James – Fourteen-year-old Cambridge High School student Shantoy Lawrence was on Tuesday admitted to the University Hospital of the West Indies in preparation for surgery to correct her heart disorder, Tetralogy of Fallot.

Consequently the just over half-million-dollar surgery– underwritten by two good samaritans who have opted to remain anonymous– should take place some time next week, according to a member of Lawrence’s cardio-surgery team.

“We will assess her general health and optimise her for the procedure. Depending on other factors, the operation should take place the earliest next week,” the team member told the Observer West on Tuesday.

Lawrence, whose case was brought to public attention after one of her guidance counsellors Yvonne Ward-Scott approached the Observer West for help, received an overwhelming response from a local and international public that covered the cost of her surgery, as well as the inevitable post-surgery costs.

“I’m so glad she’s finally in… I’m just anxious for the procedure to be done now,” Ward Scott told the Observer West on Tuesday.

Scott who has been doing the leg-work on Shantoy’s behalf, said a visibly weaker Lawrence was being very brave under the circumstances.

“We’ve waited a long time for this and even though she’s not her usual self, we are hopeful that everything will go well from here on…we just want to say thanks again to the public, here and abroad for everything,” she said.