Mother pleads for kidney donor to save teen son’s life

Yashoda Persaud a resident of Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD) is standing by her 19-year-old son Kanhai Ramnarine, who remains dependent on dialysis four times a week just to stay alive.
Dialysis is a procedure that cleans blood when the kidneys are unable to do so adequately. It removes waste products, excess fluid, and electrolytes from the blood. There are two main types: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
In a recent telephone interview, Persaud shared the painful journey her family has endured since her son, Ramnarine, was diagnosed with kidney failure in which she expressed urgency for a kidney.

Ramnarine was just 11 years old when his life changed.
His mother recalled the moment their options ran out.
“He’s my only child but we’re not a match. And we are asking anybody out there that is willing or able to donate a kidney, so he had to start dialysis.”
Since then, dialysis has become a regular part of their lives, though it has not been without serious challenges. At one point, during two-hour sessions four times a month, he suffered a seizure. He also had to undergo hip surgery, which required the insertion of screws on one side. Although he is now able to walk again, he still cannot manage long distances.
Persaud said her son sometimes suffers seizures while undergoing treatment and can barely complete the standard three-hour sessions.
“He’s on dialysis to this day. He gets seizures on so many machines. He can’t complete the full session most times,” she explained.
Despite his illness, Ramnarine was once a bright and active student.
His mother fondly recalled his school years.
“Ramnarine was such an intelligent child… the best kid I could have asked for. He went to Sparta Primary, and after writing the secondary entrance exam, he was placed in Anna Regina Multilateral. He was always in the top of his class—eighth, ninth place. He loved sports. He was an excellent child.”
However now, Persaud is left fighting for his life both medically and financially as well. She outlined the mounting costs that have made survival a daily struggle.
“We pay $15,000 for each dialysis session, and $4,000 for a taxi to and from the hospital, because he can’t travel by public transportation. The Government gives $600,000 annually, but that only lasts about two and a half months. Right now, he’s on dialysis four times a week. If you calculate, that’s $60,000 weekly, and then you add transportation?”
During his free time, the teen plays game on his phone to keep himself entertained, as he cannot walk long distances.
With no donor match within the family, Persaud is pleading for public help, whether through financial assistance or the offer of a life-saving kidney.
“Anybody out there who’s willing to help him, you can please do so and reach out to the family it’s not something to be scared of and it can in-fact help save a life…Whatever they can assist, whatever someone would like to do for us to help us we will be happy for it. Whatever, anyway.”
Persons who may want to assist the family can contact them on telephone numbers (592) 680-2147 or (592) 646-5107