The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE THE shocking diagnosis of leukemia, 11-year-old Amon Martin is remaining strong as he battles the life-threatening disease.

The road has been a long one, but, through it all, Amon and his family is determined to fight for his life and the restoration of his health.

The Martins are appealing to the public for financial assistance to cover their mounting medical bills.

The family’s ordeal began September 2013, when the 11-year-old began experiencing pelvic pains. Speaking with the Tribune Health, Amon’s step-mother, Theressa Martin said the leukemia diagnosis came as complete shock to his family and left them in a state of despair.

“He was just having abdominal pain,” she said. “I thought it was worms so I gave him medicine and that didn’t help. I noticed that he was not playing as much which was unusual, so I knew something was wrong. I took him to the clinic and the nurse gave him some vitamins, but that did not help.

“As I was getting him ready for school one day, he told me ‘I cannot go to school because I am too weak’. So I asked him ‘are you really weak in your body?’ I took him to the clinic that day and he was still in his uniform and the nurse tested his iron and it was very low. She called the doctor and the doctor told her to send us to the hospital.”

That ordeal followed numerous trips back and forth to the hospital for an entire week, Ms Martin said.

“They did numerous tests on Amon but they could not find anything wrong. They said that the only possible thing it could be is cancer in the bone. The bone marrow had shut down completely,” she told Tribune Health.

After being diagnosed with lymphocytic leukemia - a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow – doctors made the Martins aware of all of the procedures they needed to take and how the treatment would impact him.

For the past several months Amon has been undergoing chemotherapy treatment. It was the only option the family had that would help Amon battle the cancer.

“They told us about all of the treatments and how it would make him feel,” Ms Martin said. “We did not have any other option rather than letting him undergo the treatment. The treatment makes him sick all the time. He vomits, he is weak and he is just very sick when he gets treatment. The doctor said he would have 6-8 months of intense treatment and then it would break down to the once a month. She told us that it could be up to five years.”

While Amon is fighting for his survival, he finds it very difficult to be in high spirits as he is separated from his siblings and friends.

“We live in North Eleuthera, but we have been living in Nassau for a while because we have to go back and forth to the doctor. All of his sisters, brothers and friends are in Eleuthera. We cannot afford to pay for all them come to Nassau because it is too expensive. I want to see my children and I want him to see his siblings.”

Ms Martin said it has been emotionally, physically and especially financially taxing on the family.

She told Tribune Health that, because they have no money, she was unable to get medication costing $3,000 that was prescribed by doctors for Amon.

“We went to Social Services but they could not help us,” she said. “They told me they needed funds or else he could not get the medicine. We need help paying bills. I do not work, and my husband (Benjamin Martin) does not have a full-time job. And we have to pay someone to watch the children back in Eleuthera when my husband goes to work. If my he does not work he does not get paid.

“We have a lot of needs right now. My children need clothes and they need food. Amon does not get any help or support from his extended family and so we are appealing to the public to assist in anyway they can,” she said.

Persons interested in helping Amon’s family can contact 525-6643 or 465-8427.