Liberia’s first lady, Clar Weah, threw a surprise birthday party for famed Jamaican-born doctor Millicent Comrie — a gesture that threw the medic off guard in the African nation’s capital Monrovia last Wednesday.

Watched by her football legend husband George Weah, the country’s president, who is involved in campaigning for that country’s general election on October 10, Clar, a product of Grant’s Pen in St Andrew, reeled off, in full Jamaican accent, her appreciation for Dr Comrie, the St Andrew West Rural-born and Maverley-raised medical practitioner, who has built a reputation over 46 years as one of the leading obstetricians and gynaecologists in the United States.

“This is for you,” Clar uttered, as the sounds of “happy birthday to you” attached with the chorus “we wish you success” hit the air in honour of the woman rated in the top 10 Caribbean-born female doctors in the United States by News America.

Dr Comrie, who marked her birthday earlier in August, was on a visit to Liberia at the invitation of the Weahs, who she met nearly a quarter of a century ago when she delivered their son Timothy, now a member of the United States national football team.

“This is Dr Comrie, she’s a really special lady,” said Clar as she introduced the veteran practitioner. “Timothy is 23 years old, and Dr Comrie is the one who delivered him. I met her in New York City when I was extremely young and she had a clinic and I went there. There were white, black, patients, but what’s great about this lady is how she caters for the black community and the black woman within, like myself. I feel within my heart that she is one of the best doctors in the world. This lady is truly a godsend,” Clar said.

It was out of that friendship that Clar later invited Dr Comrie here to Liberia, and her first response was that it would be difficult for her to leave her patients in New York.

“But earlier this year she called and said, ‘Clar, I am 75 now and I am going to keep my promise to you by coming to Liberia because I want to support George Weah,” Clar revealed to the small gathering at a local restaurant.

“There is nothing special about me, she loves me like how she loves her patients. But I am grateful and I know she never expected me to do this, but when you are grateful and you want to show gratitude, it doesn’t matter how small a person does,” Clar continued. “So I am so grateful that she is standing here with me, with her family — her husband, her daughter, her son-in-law and her two grandchildren.

Husband Teddy, daughter Sasha, son-in-law Andre Jackson-Chin, granddaughter Kensie Jackson-Chin, and grandson Mason Jackson-Chin were all there to join in the accolades.

“She looks after the black community,” Clar continued. “If you don’t have insurance, if you don’t have money, she will never close her door to the black community, and I am just one of them that can put my hand up and say I am grateful.”

The occasion was also used to mark the upcoming birthday of Dr Comrie’s grandson, Mason Jackson-Chin, who will observe his special day on August 28.

Clar also had kind words for the youngster.

“Mason, you are one of the smartest little boys I have ever met. I know it’s your birthday on the 28th and you won’t be with us, so I have a cake for you as well. I am meeting you for the first time, but Auntie Clar loves you, just like I love your grandmom. God bless you.”

For her part, Dr Comrie expressed delight with having met up with the Weahs. “He and his family were happy to see us,” she said. “George is working hard, the people love him, and I think he will win again.”

She was also asked to speak to workers and officials at one of Monrovia’s primary medical facilities.

“The minister of health had me come down to one of their big hospitals and give a lecture, and it was very well received,” Dr Comrie said.

“Clar also built a lovely home for girls, teach them academics, technology, teach them a skill, and a section for sports, such as volleyball and basketball. It’s amazing,” said Dr Comrie, sister to former Member of Parliament and Cabinet minister Dr Fenton Ferguson; former CEO of Maxfield Bakery Herma Perkins; owner of Whitfield Bakery Pauline Ferguson Ferron; and Italy-based lawyer, Lorice Ferguson Lerner.

Last week Dr Comrie and her family arrived in the small country of 5.1 million inhabitants, located along Africa’s west coast, following a topsy-turvy air commute from New York to Accra, Ghana. She was called into action deep into the Delta Airways flight after a bout of turbulence that led to fear and panic aboard.

Being the only medical professional onboard, Dr Comrie, who also speaks Spanish and German, was forced to tend to passengers who suffered bruises, swelling from bumps to the head, scratches, whiplash, elevated blood pressure, among other things.

Holder of Jamaica’s national honour, the Order of Distinction, Dr Comrie is founder and director of the Women’s Health Center of the Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn Heights, New York.

George, who is seeking a second-straight five-year term as president, is a former Liberia international forward who played professionally in Europe for AC Milan of Italy, Chelsea (on loan), Manchester City in England, Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille in France, and in the United States.

Among his many awards are FIFA World Player of the Year in 1995, African Footballer of the Year, and the Ballon d’Or. He has been Liberia’s president since January 2018.