Corozal woman seeks assistance for medical treatment

As any businessperson in Belize City can attest, every week–if not everyday–a steady stream of people visit their establishments seeking financial assistance to pay for medical treatment. While there are no doubt a few hustlers in the crowd, most have legitimate and urgent needs. One such case is that of twenty-six year old Orchid Willoughby. For the last five months, the young mother has been plagued by severe chest pains. Her doctor in Corozal diagnosed a fungal infection in her lungs, but since then Willoughby and her family have been unable to raise enough money to travel to Guatemala for the necessary medical attention. Willoughby moved to Belize City so her sister could take care of her and tonight she makes a tearful plea for your help.

Orchid Willoughby, Needs Medical Assistance
“I got pain. I can’t sleep. I can’t sleep good dah night cause I got pain yah, yah and I noh know weh fu do, I deh ask mek people help. I can’t sleep and I can’t walk much. That’s why I deh ask mek deh help me.”

Janelle Chanona
“How can people help you?”

Orchid Willoughby
“With some money mek I could go dah Guatemala. I need five thousand dollars fu just deh test and I noh have money. I done mi deh inna hospital fu two weeks and I come out deh feel the same way. I noh sleep good dah night.”

Janelle Chanona
“What they say you have?”

Orchid Willoughby
“Fungus in my lungs, so they tell me they will send me out fu test what cause the fungus, cause I have it all pan my hand and my foot and my knee, I can’t walk much cause it hurt me.”

If you would like to assist Orchid Willoughby, you can do so through her sister Marie Willoughby at phone number 207-4987 or 661-6303. The family has also established an account with St. John’s Credit Union, number 3138.