Shaheem (extreme left in black t-shirt) surrounded by his family on Christmas Day. Photo:supplied

Shaheem with his mom by his side on Christmas Day. Photo:supplied.

Shaheem poses with a young family member. Photo:supplied

Shaheem Richards, 14, is currently a patient at a hospital in Puerto Rico undergoing Chemotherapy treatment for Acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Photo: Provided

Speaking with Virgin Islands News Online, Shaheem’s mother, Scharmla Springette-Richards, disclosed that doctors have related the good news that the young man’s cancer is in remission even though his medical bill continues to climb to stratospheric proportions.

Mrs Springette-Richards revealed that Shaheem, having just completed his third round of chemotherapy, is “progressing well” even as he prepares to undergo a bone marrow procedure next week to determine whether his cancer remains in remission.

When asked about the lad’s condition on Christmas day, Shaheem’s mom related that he was happy and was missing home and family members, “he wants to come back home to go to school,” she said.

His family members that visited him in hospital also assisted by cooking for the ill- stricken youngster on Christmas day as his mother related that he was missing home cooked food as well.

Shaheem’s bill has already surpassed the previously disclosed $40,000 mark and a total of five chemotherapy procedures will see the total cost of treatment sky rocket past $500,000.

Appeals for assistance, she related, were already made through Facebook, including several local groups on the popular social networking website.

Mrs Springette-Richards also revealed that help had been promised by the local Red Cross group, but no one has since gotten back to her from the group as yet since the offer of help was made.

The youngster is expected to start his fourth round of chemotherapy treatment at the turn of the New Year come January 2013.

“Each [chemotherapy] treatment,” she disclosed, “lasts 28 days in total.” This essentially means 5-10 days of prescribed drug treatment; leaving the remaining days for rest and recovery from any possible side-effects that might have occurred from the treatment.

Even though previous efforts have yielded some assistance, the family remains optimistic that Shaheem’s fortunes will make a turn for the better in the near future and is hopeful that more persons will respond to their appeals for assistance.

"A Mr Alphonso gave us five hundred dollars and a sweet lady from Harney's also assisted us. God has been awesome to my son and he is healed in the name of Jesus. I pray more people will come forward to help though," Springette-Richards had told Virgin Islands News Online prior to her departure to Puerto Rico.

Anyone wishing to assist the family could contact Mrs Springette-Richards on 441-0484.

See previous story posted December 7, 2012:

Another family in dire straits to raise money for sick child

- 14 year old Shaheem Richards undergoing Chemotherapy in Puerto Rico hospital; Family in some $40, 000 debt

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Just a few weeks ago this news site reported that the family of Kaidija Martin was in need of financial assistance to cover her health bill racked up in Puerto Rico recently. A distressed mother has since come forward with a similar story.

Scharmla Springette-Richards told Virgin Islands News Online that her 14-year-old son Shaheem Richards is currently a patient at a hospital in Puerto Rico and the family is also facing a huge health bill.

Shaheem, according to Springette-Richards is suffering from Leukemia and is currently undergoing Chemotherapy treatment. He is expected to be hospitalized for five months in Puerto Rico.

With tears streaming down her face, Springette-Richards related to this news site that her son, a third form student of the Elmore Stoutt High School, always appeared to be healthy and strong and was even active in basketball. This was until recently as this past summer when he began complaining of constant fatigue and tiredness.

The distraught mother also said he also developed a lump under his arm and he received medication for it but noted that others frequently developed.

“And he keep coming home saying he tired so I decided to take him to the clinic where he was referred to Peebles Hospital. There he was told that his blood count was very low but they could not find out what was the problem so they said we have to get an air ambulance to go to Puerto Rico to do bone marrow.”

In Puerto Rico, Springette-Richards said the doctor said her son had AML Leukemia.

Shaheem is on his third round of Chemotherapy having been hospitalized since September 17, 2012. He has reportedly been doing fine except when the side effects of the treatment appear. “At one time he ended up in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) because his entire body had swollen and he had developed an ulcer in his throat. He has since lost his hair and body mass has reduced but all his faculties are in order. After the third round more side effects is expected,” Springette-Richards said.

She noted that her son has good days and moody days. “Some days he cries a lot and asks why it had to happen to him and stuff like that. Because growing up he didn’t really have any sickness. We were trying to figure out who in the family had leukemia and later learned that an aunt of my husband had died from it a long time ago.”

The mother said she stayed with her ailing son for the first couple of months and has since returned to the Virgin Islands and her husband Henrique Richards has gone to be at his son’s side. “It was so hard for me being there watching him in all that pain. I am here now but my mind is there every second of the day. Hopefully next year he will be home," Springette-Richards said while wiping away tears.

Another worry for the family though is the mounting medical bill which has reportedly reached $75, 000 already.

Springette-Richards said Government assisted in making the deposit required to the hospital in Puerto Rico and the family has now to come up with the balance which will climb as her son still has a couple of months remaining in hospital.

“The figure we need now is like $40, 000.”

She also noted that family members, members of the TCI church in Long Look and other persons within the community have been helping out financially but much more help would be appreciated.

It is said that the Christmas season is a time for love and giving and it is the hope that the VI community would use this perfect opportunity to help a family in distress.

Anyone wishing to assist the family could contact Springette-Richards on 441-0484.

What is AML Leukemia?

According to our research it is actually known as Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), also known as acute myelogenous leukemia or acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL), a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells, characterized by the rapid growth of abnormal white blood cells that accumulate in the bone marrow and interfere with the production of normal blood cells.

The symptoms of AML are caused by replacement of normal bone marrow with leukemic cells, which causes a drop in red blood cells, platelets, and normal white blood cells. These symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, easy bruising and bleeding, and increased risk of infection. As an acute leukemia, AML progresses rapidly and is typically fatal within weeks or months if left untreated.