Marvin Ottey and his partner Shakira Lake endured a traumatic experience recently when they discovered that their three-year-old daughter, Neveah, had an enlarged heart surrounded by fluid. At first, they noticed that Neveah was having bouts of fever and inconsistent breathing patterns, which prompted them to admit her to the Bustamante Hospital for Children (BHC) in early September. Upon admitting her, the couple was overcome with fear and anxiety.

“I was ready to give her my heart if she needed it,” Ottey declared. “It was really stressful. Me and mommy would rotate shifts so that one of us was always there with her. I would leave work, come straight to the hospital then go back home and get ready for work again.”

The couple got some relief when the doctors diagnosed Neveah and soon after performed surgery to drain the fluid around her heart. She was an inpatient for two weeks and received what Ottey described as quality care from the doctors, which made her post-surgery stay more comfortable.

A few weeks later, Ottey revisited the hospital but in a different capacity – this time as a Flow technician to install cable TV service to 10 wards as well as internet service for the Oncology Unit. As part of its commitment to the BHC, the Flow Foundation has been supporting the hospital financially since 2015 and this year provided lifetime free cable and internet service. Having witnessed the doctors providing life-saving surgery for his daughter, Ottey said this installation job was more special compared to others.

“This is a good thing the company is doing for the hospital and I feel proud to be a part of Flow,” Ottey stated. “The hospital really deserves it because the children need entertainment to brighten their days.”

He further added: “I’ve witnessed first-hand the dedication of the doctors. The doctors provided quality care for my daughter and the other children and I know they appreciate this gesture from the company.”

The BHC is the only specialist paediatric hospital in the English-speaking Caribbean, providing critical care for children like Neveah every day, as well as a beacon of hope for parents who cannot afford private medical care. It can accommodate almost 300 patients and caters to children from birth to 12 years old.

The hospital is also an important training ground for paediatricians across the region and provides care for children from neighbouring Caribbean countries.

Dr Michelle-Ann Richards Dawson, Senior Medical Officer at the BHC, said the service from Flow will help to lift the spirits of the children.

“Our children still require their creativity and imagination to be engaged when they are ill or recovering from illness. They like to sing along and participate in the children’s activities, including those that are unable to come out of bed. The kids’ programmes go a long way in supporting their recovery by giving them something fun and positive to focus on,” said Dr Richards Dawson.

As for Neveah, she has been doing better and the hospital is running a series of tests to identify the source of the enlarged heart. Her father says he is thankful every day for each moment he shares with her, and he is grateful to the hospital and its staff for preserving the life of children just like Neveah.

“I give thanks for the care my daughter received from the hospital and I know I’m speaking for a lot of parents right now,” said Ottey.

He added, “It also feels good to know that my company is playing their part to support the hospital and that I get to play a small role in that process.”