Una Gumbs, one of the Anguillian coordinators, told this newspaper that several hotels on the island had contributed stays for guests, in support of the programme, that were auctioned by the hospital in Richmond and in Charlotte, North Carolina.
She said when the local hoteliers agreed to contribute, they asked if children in Anguilla could be identified and helped by the programme. As a result, the first of two Anguillian children, one-year-old Talique Richardson, who has a spinal condition, has been given an opportunity to receive critical surgery under the programme.

The male child, whose parents are Shanika Richardson and Tony Samson, previously had surgery in Trinidad on his legs as his spine did not develop properly, but the doctors there could not do the spinal surgery, according to Ms. Gumbs. He and his mother left Anguilla on Monday this week for Richmond where they will remain for seven weeks.

“Talique will have his surgery within the week and we pray that all will go well for him and he will be able to walk,” Ms Gumbs stated.

She recalled that Susan Rickman, President of the International Hospital for Children, and the Programme Manager of the Heal a Child Programme, Ashley Ring, were both in Anguilla for some time. The hotels which became involved in the programme, donating stays and other packages for them, included Malliouhana, CuisinArt, Cap Juluca, Paradise Cove, St Regis/Temenos and Koal Keel Restaurant.

“When the children to be helped were identified, we had to find a way to get them a flight to Richmond so I went back to a couple of generous hotels,” Ms Gumbs stated. “Mr. Stephane Zaharia of CuisinArt and Mr. Leon Roydon of Malliouhana said they would pay for the flight. When I went to Anguilla Travel Services to book the flight, they told me that the cost of the trip had gone up since they had spoken to me. So they donated some of the money, having understood that it was for a child needing critical surgery. It has not therefore been difficult to get people to donate to the programme.”

The second child identified and accepted for critical surgery, which will take place in July, is Leandra Harrigan who has a hole in her heart.

Ms Gumbs said she had spoken to the Department of Social Development which is helping her to identify other children in Anguilla requiring critical surgery.

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