DWAYNE GITTENS may be able to walk tall after all.
Three weeks ago this column carried the heartbreaking story of the 32-year-old who suffers from a severe form of bow legs (Blount’s disease), and who has been awaiting surgery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for 16 years to correct the problem.
After reading the report, a young man reached out to Gittens and took him to a private orthopaedic surgeon, who has indicated that he might be able to perform the life-changing surgery.
Gittens, who was depressed over his plight, said he was now very upbeat and looking forward to having the surgery done. However, he said that it is expected to cost thousands of dollars.
Ryan Williams, the man who is assisting Gittens, is now on a fundraising drive to raise the funds.
He explained that he first learnt of his situation after Gittens posted the newspaper article online.
“I saw him post it on Facebook was commented on some of my posts, telling me how funny they were; then he messaged me telling me the pain was bad and he was depressed,” Williams said.”
“I was thinking about it long and hard; how can I go about helping him and I decided to use the mileage I had on Facebook to reach out and help.”
Williams said he let his social media peeps know of the case and sent out a monetary appeal.
Thanking his friends, he said the response was very encouraging and he managed to raise $1 000 in three days.
Grateful
He is now awaiting word from the doctor on the cost of the surgery. “It is going to be thousands of dollars so we would have to go out there and appeal to corporate Barbados as well,” Williams said.
“I placed myself in his shoes and to be living on false hope for 16 years I don’t think I would have gone that far. If he does not get the operation he will not be able to work and he would still be dependent on Government and handouts for the rest of his life . . .”
Gittens said he was grateful to his friend and the people who have donated so far.
He said: “(Ryan) came when I was down and out. I had no hope in getting the operation because I get a lot of false promises. When the story break people tell me they gine do this and they gine do that, but he come along and made things happen. I shared my story with him and he took it on.”
As to his long wait for surgery at the QEH, the Baxters Road, City resident said he decided to get an opinion from a private doctor “because I can’t afford to wait another 16 years”.
A woman who also read of his plight in this column gave him a scooter last week.
The woman, who did not want to be identified, said she hoped it would be of assistance.
Gittens expressed gratitude for the scooter pointing out that it would come in handy, especially during his recuperation after the surgery.
