Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/4598/-1/140/
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Edward Syndrome Child Lives On
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Three-old Nekia Hodge, whom doctors thought would have died probably before or after her first birthday, lives on and has recently been found to be functioning well in some vital areas despite her life-threatening Edward Syndrome.
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Nekia Hodge
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The child’s caring and grateful mother (Necola Carty of Rey Hill), brought her daughter to The Anguillian on Tuesday. They had not long retuned to Anguilla from Tufts-New England Medical Center in Miami where the child was taken for observation and treatment.
It followed a story in The Anguillian about the child who was successfully fighting to remain alive, defying her condition and medical science.
Tye Ray, a frequent visitor to Anguilla, took up her case and arranged for his Medical Aid Foundation in Boston, Massachusetts, to provide some assistance. It was through his persistent initiative that the Anguillian child was able to spend a week at the Tufts- New England Medical Center in Miami.
Her mother, who stayed at a hospitality house, reported that little Nekia underwent various specialist tests including one for gastroenteritis, a condition for which she obtained treatment.
It was discovered that one of the probable reasons for her continuing life was that while she had four Edward Syndrome cells, there were two normal cells. Her reduced heart was found to be normal and her brain functioning well insomuch that the physicians thought she should be going to a special school, the type of which is not available in Anguilla.
The Anguilla Government, through the Department of Social Development, paid for the travelling expenses. The child’s mother has expressed gratitude for the assistance of Mr. Tye, the Anguilla Government, the Department of Social Development, American Eagle/American Airlines and family and friends.
Necola is admired for showing a great sense of caring love and responsibility for her ailing child by having left her architectural desk job to stay at home to take care of her baby girl – in a way that no one else can. She still functions very well in her skill of designing building plans on her computer, thus making good use of her time while turning over and nurturing her bundle of love.