Husband appeals for blood to save wife"s life

Tuesday, January 13, 2015 | 9:42 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Paul Barrett, in collaboration with the National Blood Transfusion Service, is on a two-day blood drive to collect 200 units of blood to save his wife’s life.

His wife, who has a rare condition known as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) needs multiple blood transfusions, and is now in the intensive care unit (ICU) at the University Hospital of the West Indies.

“My wife at the moment requires a lot of blood and there is no specific treatment for it. The nature of her illness is one where antigens are in her blood,” Barrett told OBSERVER ONLINE late Tuesday.

He said she first went to the ICU on New Year’s Day and came back out but returned about two or three days after.

“Despite the blood she keeps requiring more and more. I was introduced to a new procedure called plasma exchange and decided to try it,” Barrett shared. “It takes between four to five of the procedures before you see results.”

He said that each time the procedure is done, it requires 40 units of blood.

“She is still critical,” said Barrett.

Barrett approached the Blood Bank and they have since organised a two-day blood drive that is to continue at the Anglican Church Hall in Morant Bay, St Thomas on Wednesday.

“I went out and asked people to donate, kind of like a door-to-door invitation and got help from other people who went around making announcements, and also through social media.

Blood Donor Organiser Igol Allen told OBSERVER ONLINE that a total of 62 units were collected Tuesday. He also said that once Barrett approached them, they said yes immediately.

“I am encouraging those in Kingston who would like to assist to go to the National Chest Hospital between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm on Saturday to donate or any of the other centres across the island during the week,” said Allen.

Barrett said he is grateful for the support so far and thanked everybody who donated. He is however appealing for additional support.

Anika Richards

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Husband appeals for blood to save wife"s life

Buju Banton Will Walk Free if Appeals Court Rule In His Favor, In Court Hearing.

According to sources the United States Attorney’s office will not file a new case if a mis-trial is granted.

Attorney’s for imprisoned reggae superstar Buju Banton were in court yesterday for a hearing on his appeal case. The case is being heard in front of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta Georgia. The singer is appealing his 2011 conviction on a cocaine distribution conspiracy charge. The high court will decide whether or not the one remaining charge that is keeping the Grammy award winning DJ behind bars could’ve been different without the misconduct of one Juror. Earlier this year other charges were thrown out by The Honorable James S. Moody, Jr. a Senior United States District Judge.

According to sources in the courtroom Buju’s attorneys, Charles Ogletree and Max Stern are very optimistic. They argued that there is no way the misconduct of said juror did not impact the outcome of the trial. The 3 panel Judges seemed to agree with them. According to one source one of the judges implied that there was absolutely no way to tell how much information the jury received from the internet, and whether or not it impacted the outcome of the trial.

We are keeping Gargamel in our prayers. We hope that this ordeal comes to an end soon, a christmas blessing for his family, friends, and the music fraternity.

Recently a change in federal drug sentencing guidelines prompted the convicted Jamaican reggae singer to ask for early release from his 10-year prison sentence. He is scheduled for release in 2019.

Banton filed a motion asking to be released early under the change that reduces sentencing guidelines for most drug offenses and can be applied retroactively.

However, the change won’t apply to most minimum mandatory sentences. Banton’s 10-year sentence is the minimum mandatory sentence for his conviction stemming from a 2009 arrest following a sting operation.

Buju wants the court to reduce his sentence and release him to U.S. immigration authorities so that he can be deported to Jamaica.

Posted in: Breaking News. Tags: Buju Banton Will Walk Free if Appeals Court Rule In His Favor, In Court Hearing..

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Buju Banton Will Walk Free if Appeals Court Rule In His Favor, In Court Hearing.

VIDEO: Shaggy appeals to diaspora to help Jamaica

News

BY RICHARD JOHNSON Senior staff reporter johnsonr@jamaicaobserver.com Tuesday, December 31, 2013

SHAGGY is calling on Jamaicans in the diaspora to contribute to causes here at home, such as his Make A Difference Foundation, which supports the Bustamante Hospital for Children in St Andrew.The reggae/dancehall artiste explained that there are more Jamaicans living overseas than there are here at home, and added that for the most part, the Jamaicans overseas are in better financial positions than their local counterparts, and are therefore in a better position to offer assistance to the less fortunate.“The majority of our population is poor; whole heap a dem over deh so have money. Dem inna better job, better situation. They can engage, but part of the problem is half of them are scared. Dem don’t want to come down here for a cause because they are terrified… it’s as simple as that.To mobilise the diaspora is hard,” he told yesterday’s Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange. He bemoaned the fact that the majority of the Jamaicans living overseas do not have a connection with the island as many have not visited in a while, therefore getting the message to them regarding causes similar to the Bustamante Hospital for Children is hard unless they visit.“Much like how we have leaders in Jamaica who take a stand on certain issues and push things, you don’t have community organisers in the Jamaican diaspora that are active… who are just at it.You just kinda find a man who will say ‘mi a yaadie’, wear the colours and a it dat and big up themself when Bolt a run. For us to have a strong Jamaican or Caribbean voice we need organisation, we need people to be actively supporting causes in Jamaica,” said Shaggy, whose concert in aid of the Bustamante Hospital for Children is scheduled for this Saturday in Kingston.He is calling on Jamaican companies operating overseas to come forward and support causes here at home to help offset the strain brought to bear on the local private sector, which is already operating in a difficult economic climate and has to bear the brunt of the requests for assistance from local charities.“There are Jamaican companies overseas that make millions of dollars. I am encouraging them to set up a fund and allocate certain monies to certain Jamaican charities,” said Shaggy.Shaggy gesticulates as he addresses yesterday’s Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange. Also photographed are artistes Assassin (left) and Matthew Schuler. (PHOTOS: NAPHTALI JUNIOR)Reggae artiste Shaggy (second left) and fellow artistes Assassin (left), Matthew Schuler (fourth left), Wayne Marshall (second right) and Don Schuler (right), as well as Dr Lambert Ennis, head of anaesthesia and intensive care at the Bustamante Hospital for Children give the thumbs up to this wekened’s Shaggy and Friends concert during yesterday’s Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange. (PHOTO: NAPHTALI JUNIOR)

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VIDEO: Shaggy appeals to diaspora to help Jamaica

Shaggy appeals to corporate entities to assist children"s hospital

Latest News

Monday, December 30, 2013 | 4:48 PM

ST ANDREW, Jamaica — International artiste Shaggy on Monday issued an appeal for corporate entities in Jamaica and the Diaspora to help in assisting the Bustamante Children’s Hospital and other such facilities in Jamaica.The Shaggy and Friends Make a Difference Charity concert, is geared towards raising funds to assist the Bustamante Hospital, and the artiste has been behind the venture for the past five years.Shaggy said that he had been making donations to the hospital before he created the Shaggy and Friends Foundation, but eventually went public because he needed help.He was speaking to journalists at the Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange forum held at the newspaper’s headquarters on Beechwood Avenue in St Andrew.More in tomorrow’s Jamaica Observer.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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Shaggy appeals to corporate entities to assist children"s hospital

Shaggy appeals to corporate entities to assist children"s hospital

Entertainment

Monday, December 30, 2013 | 4:48 PM

ST ANDREW, Jamaica — International artiste Shaggy on Monday issued an appeal for corporate entities in Jamaica and the Diaspora to help in assisting the Bustamante Children’s Hospital and other such facilities in Jamaica.The Shaggy and Friends Make a Difference Charity concert, is geared towards raising funds to assist the Bustamante Hospital, and the artiste has been behind the venture for the past five years.Shaggy said that he had been making donations to the hospital before he created the Shaggy and Friends Foundation, but eventually went public because he needed help.He was speaking to journalists at the Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange forum held at the newspaper’s headquarters on Beechwood Avenue in St Andrew.More in tomorrow’s Jamaica Observer.

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2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.

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4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.

5. Please don’t use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed:mailto:advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.

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Shaggy appeals to corporate entities to assist children"s hospital