Funds Flow for Costley surgery
Published:Thursday | December 23, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Communications firm among corporate entities responding to Montego Bay family's cry
Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Her smile has the power to melt your heart, while her eyes peer into your soul.
Two-year-and-four-month-old Terri-Ann Costley has enough charm to move you. And that's exactly what she did with communications firm Flow.
Born with encephalocele, a rare condition that causes partial formation of the skull, doctors predicted that the toddler would not have lived more than a day.
She has lived 27 months since that diagnosis, but needs surgery at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, located in Baltimore, Maryland, in order to walk without falling and live a normal life.
Yesterday, Flow's public relations manager, Denise Williams, brought a cheque for J$250,000 and hope to Terri-Ann's parents, Kenroy and Evan Costley, at their home in Montego Bay, St James.
Total cost
The money will go towards surgery, which is estimated to cost US$137,000 (about J$12 million).
"When we came to Montego Bay, we had made a promise that we would get involved in the community and we have been doing a lot," stated Williams. "This particular story actually came out of an article we saw in The Gleaner, and we decided we would do things different this Christmas. Instead of giving corporate gifts, what we have done is to get involved in three charities - one in Montego Bay, one in Mandeville and one in Kingston."
She added: "This particular case was so heart-rending, we really felt it was needed, and the team got together, thanks to our customers who gave up on their gifts this Christmas."
Williams tags the effort a start of what she hopes will be a project aimed at helping Terri-Ann with surgery in 2011.
Famed paediatric neurosurgeon Dr Benjamin Carson is expected to perform the operation which he admits would be risky.
In medical notes, Carson stated that, based on the complexity and nature of this kind of surgery, it cannot be done anywhere else in the world.
The neurosurgeon also said that for young Terri-Ann to have survived to this age was quite extraordinary.
"I am excited to know that help is coming, slow, but sure," said Evan Costley, a mother of three.
"When the problem came, I said, 'God, you know seh mi no have no money and you give me this'," she reminisced on the thoughts that plagued her when she found out her daughter would not live a normal life.
She added: "Even if I sell this house that I live in, I still wouldn't be able to raise the money to do this operation. I am thrilled for Flow being here to help, I am ecstatic to know somebody else is with me and I am hopeful. I don't feel alone."
One of the first organisations to respond to Evan Costley's call was the Jamaica Teachers' Union, of which she is part.
For The Gleaner's part, the organisation's Western Bureau chief, Shernett Robinson, who was on hand to assist in the presentation, spoke of the changing role of the media, while commending Flow.
"Newspapers are no longer just about breaking news; we have to provide a lifestyle, we have to provide changes in people's lives. I am proud to know we are able to make such a change," said Robinson.
Persons and companies that wish to support Terri-Ann Costley's surgery may make donations to their Scotiabank accounts at Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay: #946118 (Jamaican) or #954688 (US).