STATING that her wish is to see her seven-year-old son grow up, Tamara Walters is pleading for financial help from fellow Jamaicans in order to continue dialysis treatments.

The 38-year-old mother of three explained that she was diagnosed with kidney failure two years ago, but just started receiving treatment around eight months ago.

“I normally get the dialysis treatment by St Joseph’s Hospital, but I don’t have any money and a visit is about $8,500. I’m supposed to visit two times per week and so far it’s difficult for me. my family can’t help me, and I have Down’s syndrome brother who is suffering from glaucoma and I have to take care of him also, which I’m unable to do,” Walters told the

Jamaica Observer during a visit to the paper’s head offices at Beechwood Avenue in St Andrew, last week Tuesday.

She stated that she cannot afford food or any other necessities as she can’t work due to the worsening nature of her kidneys and lack of treatment.

In addition to her son, she has two daughters, aged 20 and 22 respectively; however, she explained that they are not in a position to assist her.

“One just gone overseas to a university and she not working over there. She normally help me very well when she was out here, but now she’s overseas just nearly a month now and she just going to school; no money, no nothing at all. My next daughter, she has a little work, nothing much, and it’s very difficult, very difficult and very hard, so I’m asking for help,” Walters appealed.

The Arnett Gardens resident highlighted that she used to work as a janitor at the Kingston Public Hospital for 13 years before she fell ill, but despite her best efforts, she has been unable to receive help from her former workplace.

“They keep on telling me that down there is full and I ask right around the clock. I ask all the doctors down there and they keep telling me down there is full, and I think they should have helped me ’cause I work in their facilities for 13 long years, they know me very well, so I don’t know what is happening why I can’t get any help from them.”

“Every day, up to last week I ask. right now I urgently need some dialysis because my belly is swollen, my foot is swollen, and I’m feeling pain all over and I really need some help. I’m asking openly and St Joseph’s has been so good to me I can’t even explain, but up there is a private hospital and you have to pay.”

She explained that the cost for the two days is set to increase as, due to the severity of her condition, she needs dialysis treatments three days a week in order to reduce the swelling in her belly.

“It is so hard because I’m so weak and I’m still trying. I’m fighting to stay alive and I’m fighting for my life because each day I get up, I pray. I ask God to give me strength so that I can take care of my brother who is sick and my son.”

Those who are able to help are being asked to contact Walters at 594-0758 or her daughter, Shenelle Bernard, at 316-9476. An account at NCB has also been set up to help Walters. The account number is: 234-457-780.