The Jodian Pantry Foundation is seeking donors to help in its quest to assist five-year-old Jamaari Smith, who has been a patient at the University Hospital of the West Indies since last August.
Pantry said one of her followers, Amanda Ebanks, reached out to her on Instagram, drawing attention to the youngster. She then reached out to his mother, Tameka Rowe Smith, and with one look at little Jamaari, she was a goner.
“His life has changed since June 2022. A horror film is what his life has become. Jamaari has been diagnosed with a disease called Pyoderma gangrenosum, a type of skin ulcer that causes great pain to the body,” she shared in an interview with Freedom Come Rain.
Young Smith’s battle started when he scratched his hand on the gate while walking through it. A sore broke out, and he was taken to a private doctor, who prescribed the antibiotic Augmentin and skin ointment.
A few days later, bumps were still coming up, so he was taken to another doctor. With no change in his condition, his mother consulted a third doctor, who gave him Augmentin also and asked that a blood test be done.
“They did blood work, and that is when it was discovered that he had pyoderma gangrenosum. He was given morphine as the pain by then had become unbearable,” Pantry explained.
Sharing a report from the child’s mother, Pantry said 85% of his body is covered with sores. He has so far received four transfusions, and he is now on a life support machine as his breathing has changed.
“So far, she is struggling. She had to quit her job. The transportation cost is stretching her and his father. The cheapest medication is $2000; she must purchase more than one cube of ointment,” she informed.
ANSWER THE CALL
Smith, responding to the assistance she has been receiving from Pantry, was overwhelmed, as she said in a WhatsApp note, “I thank Jodian so much. I don’t even know what to say. God is working; thank you for answering the call and for listening to the Holy Spirit,” she gushed.
“I’m almost in tears; I feel well blessed. I feel like I met a wonderful person; I feel like we will be best friends,” were her emotional words as she told the singer that she is confident that when she returns to Jamaica and meets her son, she will “fall in love with him.”
So far, Pantry has managed to secure over $131,000 for her, with the money earmarked to assist her with medical expenses, food, and the cost of travelling to the hospital, as her son has been hospitalised at UHWI since last Monday. Smith lives in Farm District, Whitehouse, Westmoreland.
“Right now, he needs three doses of Invitro Immunoglubulin and a PICC line size 5a. PICC is a thin, flexible tube that is inserted into a vein in the upper arm and guided (threaded) into a large vein above the right side of the heart called the superior vena cava. I was able to get two doses through the National Health Fund (NHF). However, ultimately, I want him to go overseas for treatment because nothing that the doctors here are doing seems to be able to control this disease,” she stated.
To join in the cause with Jodian, you can donate via Cash App: JodianFoundation
Zelle: Jodianpantrymusic@gmail.com, NCB: 574046378 – Jodian Pantry