Surgery on 2-year-old eye cancer patient successful

The two-year-old who was flown out of Guyana to Cuba in order to undergo treatment for eye cancer has returned and according to his mother, Cassandra Persaud, his surgery was a successful one.

According to Persaud, who returned home with the boy, Omkar Persaud, on Friday, their success was as a result of the support from Roraima Airways, the Public Health Ministry and the SHEA Foundation, who came forward to assist her son.
She also pointed to the contribution of Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba, Halim Majeed, who she disclosed remained supportive throughout the period of her son’s treatment in Cuba.
The treatment, which was estimated to cost US$20,000, was only made possible by the abovementioned donors.
The lad and his mother departed Guyana for Cuba via Roraima Airways on December 15, 2016, in order for him to undergo treatment in the hope of saving his right eye, after his left eye was removed in 2016 after deterioration brought on by retinoblastoma (a rare, malignant tumour of the retina).
The lad was also diagnosed with retinoblastoma in his right eye, and was in need of urgent treatment.
After his mother’s public pleas for assistance, a number of organisations came forward to support her.
One significant contributor was the owner of Roraima Airways, Gerry Gouveia who presented the lad with two airline tickets to Cuba for him to undergo his surgery.
The Guyana Pandits’ Council and the Radha Krishna Mandir also made a donation of $315,000 towards the child’s care.
The journey is not yet over as Persaud is yet to undergo additional treatment in Guyana.