Young Barbadian woman appeals for financial help to get her back on her feet again

Former national field hockey player Rhea Callender is just 24 years-old but she is no stranger to challenges. Not only has she been diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease, but the health complication left her paralysed from her waist down.

In April, she had surgery at a Texas hospital, to remove a rare cyst called teratoma that led to her losing lower body motor functions.

WebMD, characterise teratomas as a rare tumour which may hold different types of tissue such as bone, teeth, muscle, and hair. The tumours are mostly found in the ovaries, testicles, and tailbone, but may also sometimes grow in the nervous system and abdomen.

Following the surgical procedure and aggressive therapy, fortunately, the University of the West Indies (UWI) student has begun to gradually get back feeling and movement of her body parts

“It has been really hard for me but I have come so far. I started off not being able to move a simple toe, but now I can move my toe and my knees. I cried so much. But I am happier now because I have come so far. It is time to be positive,” Callender said, recalling that she spent many days and nights in recent months crying as the illness led to a number of dramatic changes in her life.

The emotional young woman recalled that on April 16, while visiting a relative in Texas, United States she started vomiting and developing a fever. She said after three days the symptoms remained and the decision was made to visit a doctor who diagnosed her with gastro and prescribed medication, which did not work.

She returned to the doctor who told her to go directly to the emergency room where scans showed that there was a cyst on her right ovary.

Callender said she was taken to another hospital where she said test results showed there was fluid on her back and brain.

“I got some fluid removed from my back and then I was at another hospital. I was totally unconscious that whole time. At the other hospital they said I had meningitis, but I didn’t have meningitis. My sister said I was hallucinating and I suffered memory loss. Then I went to the last hospital and whatever they did, got me back conscious, and they are the persons that then did the tests and they had this theory that it could be the cyst.

“They had a discussion with me, my parents and my boyfriend over zoom. So then I had the surgery to remove the cyst and to remove the whole right ovary because they didn’t want any fractions left back. After they removed that I had something called a plasma exchange to clean the blood and I had that treatment six times every other day,” she said, explaining that she started having feeling in some of her body parts again as she underwent that treatment.

During her treatment, she said doctors put her on Rituximab medication to ensure she had a chance of survival. Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody medication used to treat certain autoimmune diseases and types of cancer.

She was then moved to a rehabilitation centre where after three weeks of treatment she was finally able to sit up for an extended period.

“It was more expensive for them to keep me up there than to send me home. So they made sure that I was to a point where I can do physiotherapy here and could get the required medical care. They paid for me to come back home and for the nurse to come to me and gave me a wheelchair,” she said.

Returning to Barbados last week after being given the green light to travel once accompanied by a nurse, Callender is facing the reality that in order to fully recover she is in dire need of additional medical attention.

Sitting in a wheelchair at her Gall Hill, Christ Church home, she told Barbados TODAY that she has to undergo additional therapy and treatment to stop her immune system from attacking itself once more.

Facing a staggering US$1 million medical expenses bill, Callender is appealing to Barbadians to assist her on the road to recovery.

She is anxious to start walking again and her family is fighting to help her get to that point, but they need help.

“I just came from legitimately playing field hockey for Barbados. I was very involved in the sport and on the board. I played for Combermere.

“It was very depressing and frustrating not being able to move, can’t do anything for yourself, especially down to where I am fully dependent on my boyfriend to change my pamper.

“But I am getting stronger so I am happier and I am home now. I just want to get back on my feet again. I came a long way but I just need Barbadians to help me get further please,” Callender said, pointing out that she currently requires home care from a nurse.

While she has had to put her Bachelor’s in Physics and Computer Science on hold due to her medical challenges, she is concentrating on her Tuesday therapy sessions and making even more progress using the equipment.

She has to return to the US in six months for further medical care which will include another round of the Retuximab.

Barbadians who want to make a donation to Callender’s fund can make donations to GoFundMe account Help Rhea to get back on her feet again, organised by Shawn Ollivierre, her cousin who is based in Texas.

Donations can also be made to Republic Bank account 021530461001 which was set up by Callender’s mother Shirley Callender.

The young woman expressed gratitude to her family and friends who have remained at her side as she strives to overcome this obstacle in her life, particularly her parents Shirley and Greville Callender, sister Rachelle Morris, cousin Shawn Ollivierre, and boyfriend Daniel Williams. She is also thanking the medical teams in the US that went above and beyond to save her life.

anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb