Jamaica Bedding's special gift to ailing teen in deplorable state

Among those who have responded positively since news first broke by Television Jamaica in June, is furniture company Jamaica Bedding, known for its high quality supreme brand of mattresses.

The Old Harbour-based company recently gifted the Glengoffe, St Catherine family a queen size mattress with accompanying bed base and sheet set, a pair of pillows and curtains.

“Jamaica Bedding has always been responding to members of our society that are in genuine need. So this cause was not much different except for the fact that it was highlighted on Television Jamaica and so it was because of the highlight that we were made aware of young Afreen’s situation and felt compelled to assist,” company director and founder Errol Lewin said.

Ramgeet, a 10th Grade student of Glengoffe High School, bears multiple afflictions such as lupus, bone disease fibromyalgia, epilepsy, a heart condition and a cyst on her womb.

The talented song writer depends on a variety of medications valued tens of thousands of dollars to live any semblance of normal life. Her mother Alicia Reynolds, who she lives with, sells at the school’s gate but the effects of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has significantly affected her ability to earn, take care of herself and her ailing daughter.

 

 

 

 

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The living condition of the rented house they called home is in a deplorable state as well. The structural integrity of the building is in need of repairs, sanitization is less than ideal, while the two sleep on a make-shift bed: a worn-out sponge mattress supported by buckets and cooking gas cylinders.

Upon seeing their plight Jamaica Bedding affirmed its commitment to shine light and provide comfort into what have been a dark world for Ramgeet and her mother.

In a chat with Old Harbour News, Reynolds said support is coming come from many Jamaicans near and far afield. They are extremely grateful for the outpouring of love and benevolence but the support given so far still pales in comparison to the sheer magnitude of their situation.

Monthly medication cost for Afreen hovers around $80,000, Reynolds revealed and “that’s just medication… food don’t in it and taking her to the hospital don’t in it, plus other expense”.

“We are happy,” she said of their first night’s sleep in their new bed.

“It goes to show that we are a people who can do much when we work together and we continue to appeal to the kindness of others that you may consider Afreen and Lisa because their situation is ongoing but we believe in the spirit of giving,” said Pastor Itamar James of the Glengoffe SDA church, speaking on behalf of the family after the items were delivered.

“All of us need to step aside from ourselves and look on those around us who might have a greater need because remember we are our brother’s keeper,” the clergyman added. “I just want to let somebody know today that we are better in our majority than our minority seems to suggest we are.”

Afreen, 17, is likely to repeat Grade 10, Reynolds said, as she is among the roughly 120,000 Jamaican students who experience severe learning loss due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Thanks to donors, for the upcoming academic school year the secondary student will be equipped with the necessary devices to facilitate learning remotely.

However, her challenge is that “we just don’t have any internet,” Reynolds said.

She said a GoFundMe account is being set up for persons to donate in aid of helping the family.

Reynolds said she has been offered jobs but is unable to take up any of the offers because of the high demand required to care for Afreen, which involves taking her to hospital in Kingston five times weekly most times.