Mother desperately seeking to raise £20K for local toddler with ‘breathing’ challenges
![According to Alian R.F. Lewis, doctors in the [British] Virgin Islands have been unable to make a proper diagnosis and she has decided to make the 'frightening but needed move' to the United Kingdom (UK) to seek a diagnosis and possible treatment for little Jeremiah C. Pickering Jr. Photo: Provided](https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/cache/images/800x_t_Toddler.jpg)
Alian R.F. Lewis stated on the GoFundMe account that her son Jeremiah C. Pickering Jr, who was born on November 14, 2021, has been suffering from respiratory challenges days after he was born.
She also said doctors in the [British] Virgin Islands have been unable to make a proper diagnosis and she has decided to make the “frightening but needed move” to the United Kingdom (UK) to seek a diagnosis and possible treatment for little Jeremiah.
Ms Lewis stated that her son even spent an entire month in hospital but since his release, he [son] has continued to battle daily with his breathing, “to the point where I am unable to work and must be by his side 24/7.
‘Declining health’
She said, through prayers and support from his family and friends Jeremiah continues to fight but his health is still declining and she has no answer as to why he has been in a constant state of respiratory distress for almost 2 years.
“At present Jeremiah stops breathing in his sleep and I then must administer a vigorous sternal rub on his back to force him to take a breath and resume breathing. Because of this, I am surviving on little to no sleep. I am afraid to sleep when he does.”
Ms Lewis also wrote that she was fired from her job, as she had to stay home to care for her son on many occasions.
“As I still don’t have a diagnosis for my son and no care or treatment plan in place; with my very last I made the difficult decision to migrate to the United Kingdom to save my son’s life.
“I am humbly asking for assistance for this frightening but NEEDED move. I am requesting donations to assist me with the relocation in taking Jeremiah to the UK, where he can get a diagnosis and necessary care that is needed. His life depends on it, this is my last hope to save my son. I thank you all so much in advance for your kind generosity,” Ms Lewis wrote.
The GoFundMe account created on Thursday, October 26, 2023, has so far raised £612 of its £20,000 goal.
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57 Responses to “Mother desperately seeking to raise £20K for local toddler with ‘breathing’ challenges”
By the way if you know how to get to Uk for 1000.00 please let me know
Last min flights to the UK are well over 1k per person. Secondly rented accommodation in the UK requires a minimum of 6 months’ rent as she does not have rental history or a credit history. Fully furnished privately rented homes start at £900. £900 x 6 is already £5,400.
She then has council tax which a MANDATORY tax associated with living in a property. That averages to about £187 a month. (Dependant on the city you reside it can be astronomically higher)
The energy bills during the winter season coupled with the current cost of living crisis in the UK is about £245 a month. I personally pay £300 a month. Let’s not forget water bill, groceries, transport and the purchasing of warm clothing. That can and will easily surpass the £20K she is humbly asking for.
Again, Healthcare is not free. Whilst she may be a BVIslander/British Citizen, the Law states that if you have been outside the UK for more than 3 years even as a British Citizen, she will have to prove she will a habitual resident in the UK and then be in continuous habitual residency for 12 months before being eligible for NHS treatment. Only emergency NHS treatment will be free. (e.g. being rushed to the hospital or treated in A&E) In some cases they may wave the charges, but she won't know until she is in the UK and the administrators of her chosen children's hospital decide case by case.
Before you spew your ignorance and assumptions, please don't speak on this young lady's situation like you are the almighty. If you don't want to donate trod on. She is literally trying to save her child's life and you talking about greed without knowing facts! Very ignorant.
All the best mommy
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Sin D fx the goose and no one in authority give a hoot.
My wallet ain't openin without evidence and corroboration publicly submitted
along with the solicitation of funds which in my opinion would have been a common sense decent thing to do.
Some of you guys sound so *&^%$ foolish. Do you think NHI is just a blank cheque? It's INSURANCE, it doesn't mean that everyone that gets sick will be covered for everything. You complain about having to pay the contribution but want it to cover everything under the sun. Real life does not work this way, this is why bigger countries with National Health Systems require people to pay 20% and more of their earnings in taxes/contributions. There's no free lunch! I'm sorry for the young lady, perhaps she could call Heritage/Cindy and do a fundraiser via their program. I will donate to the gofund me, who ever else can afford should assist as well. NHI has its issues but it has saved many lives since inception. It's far from perfect but stop letting emotions make you talk sh**.
Mom, from mother to mother, I know the struggle. I hope you get answers and your little one will get better soon. It hurts to see your child suffering. May the hand of his creator heal him.
she want to move to the u.k. to seek treatment. to me you need to reach out to the u.k. to see if the u.k. can help him. (sorry I didn't see any where it said that she found a doctor that she is sure to help him in the u.k. that why I said that.
Please don't come for me I am just putting in my 2 cents as I am a mother as well and I read everything.
if you move and the up cant help him would you move again to somewhere else.
the internet is our world google what is going on see if others have the same problem and where their live and if you can find the doctor they use to help them. then to me you can make the move or go to seek help for your son.
moving is a great thought at the moment but you still have to find some where to live and a hospital that will take your insurance if you still have since you said you are not working.
research as much as you can before taking that step to save your son life.
i wish you all the best.
St Thomas to London Heathrow on Thursday 7th December for 1 adult and 4 children , 1 under 2 for a flight on United at 2.12pm comes to a grand total of $1439 about £1200 and that is for 5 of them flying.
Also rent in the UK varies widely, if she moved to Birmingham or Manchester rent would be under £500 so again its where she wants to go and the level of begging she expects to do there , instead of here. So no assumptions only facts of life and perhaps if she had learned them in school she wouldnt be in this situation, harsh but true.
https://www.sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk/patients-and-parents/overseas-visitors-information-for-patients-and-families
WHERE is the compassion for a desperate mother with these life threatening issues of a child?
WHERE IS THE COMPASSION????