Facing up to life despite the odds

Barrington Flemming, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Basic-school teacher Jacqueline Frank of Haughton in Lacovia, St Elizabeth, welcomed her fourth child, Ramon, into the world on August 26, 1998 at the Black River Hospital with tears streaming down her face and her lips framing the words, "Why me, God? What have I done wrong?"

Her little boy had all his toes and fingers but she noticed from then that he was different. One ear was poorly developed and the inner portion of his mouth jutted out abnormally.

Frank said a doctor told her that her little Ramon had congenital hemifacial microsomia, a condition that affects the growth of the face. It is predominantly unilateral and involves the ear, mouth, and mandible.

The doctor said the condition was genetic, Frank told The Gleaner. This, for her and husband Leroy, was a puzzle, as there was no one, to their knowledge, on either side of the family who has suffered from a similar condition. (Frank, who was married to the boy's father, Leroy Rankin, at the time of Ramon's birth, has since separated from her husband).

"They asked me if I knew of it in the family. I told them no. They told me then that it's just that when the foetus was developing something went wrong. They could not tell me what was the cause," Frank explained.

Rankin, although sad about his son's condition, comforted himself with hopes of a miracle from God.

Frank cried, knowing that Ramon would not have a normal life and worried about how people would treat him.

"I worried that they would look at him and laugh and embarrass him. He would not live a normal life; no girl would look at him."

'God mek mi'

Her fears were realised when, during a visit to the Black River Hospital, a woman asked, "Likkle bway, a how yu look suh?" Ramon simply replied, "A so God mek mi."

Frank explained further: "When he was born, they gave me a letter to take him to the Mandeville Hospital to see a paediatrician and I took him there until he was a year old. I then got another letter to take him to the Bustamante Hospital, which I did until he was two years old. The doctors there told me that his condition could be corrected, but not in Jamaica."

After numerous trips back and forth from Mandeville Hospital to Kingston, Frank said she got discouraged after two other plastic surgeons confirmed the operation could not be done in Jamaica.

Ramon is now three months shy of celebrating his 12th birthday and the condition has worsened. The mandible is jutting farther forward and some of his teeth are exposed. Life, for him, has been bittersweet.

"When I was little, I cried a lot when people teased me. I would go to school and the children would laugh at me and tease and I would cry at school."

His father, a practising Christian who attends the Shiloh Apostolic Church, while hurting inwardly over his son's condition, sought to console him by telling him: "In life, there will be people who love you and some who don't. God loves you. Your mother and I love you.

"Ramon, focus on your education. Don't focus on how your teeth and mouth look, pay attention to your schoolwork," Rankin explained.

Built up resolve

Despite that, Ramon had to battle the many stares, snickers and jeers from children, but gradually built up steely resolve.

"I don't cry like that anymore. Sometimes I feel like I want to cry but I don't. My parents encourage me a lot. I listen to them," said the plucky youngster, who has a speech impediment.

Ramon, who attends Glen Stuart Primary School in St Elizabeth, sat the Grade Six Achievement Test recently and would like to gain a place at Manchester High School. An avid cricketer, Ramon says he is an all-rounder and lists West Indies skipper Chris Gayle as his favourite player.

"I would like to play like Chris Gayle. When I grow up, I would like to become a policeman or a doctor," said Ramon who, like any kid, has disparate ambitions.

But he does have rationale for being a cop or doc: "When people do bad things and kill others, I would like to correct them and tell them that it is not right. And I would like to be a doctor so I can help people, so that they won't have to suffer so much."

Surgery possible in ja

Good news came for Ramon when, on a referral visit to the University Hospital in Kingston, his mother was told by a plastic surgeon that the operation could be done here in Jamaica. Through Dr Ladi Doonquah, Frank was contacted by Paula Ann Porter and told about the Change A Life project initiated by Television Jamaica (TVJ) in which The Gleaner is a partner.

"This has boosted our spirits; we feel good. He needs a brace that costs US$7,000. Money is so low, we can't afford it. This is good for Ramon now there is hope.

"But this is not all that is needed - much more is needed, including money for the operation," Frank added.

Ramon will also need devices to correct the facial bone abnormalities. This will include titanium plates and screws and a 'distraction' device in the initial stages. He may need additional screws as he ages.