Christopher Bowman’s tumour plight aired on CBS

On Monday’s newscast we brought you the story of twenty-one year old Christopher Bowman who needs funding for a surgery to remove a tumour from his chest. Bowman is currently in the United States seeking treatment, but his eight year plight to get the tumour removed caught the attention of a CBS Dallas reporter, Jay Gormley. Here’s his report, aired last night.

Jay Gormely, Reporting, CBS Eleven News
When you see and hear Christopher Bowman in church, it’s hard to believe that someone so vocal can be so soft spoken.

Christopher Bowman, Needs Assistance for Surgery
“The Lord has brought me here so I believe he will do more as long as I put my trust in Him.”

The twenty-one year old is counting on a prayer and a medical miracle. He’ll need both to cure blood tumor that, if left untreated, will eventually kill him.

Christopher Bowman
“Sometimes it gets hard underneath my arm and it brings blood to my mouth every time I cough.”

The tumor is the size of a basketball. It continues to grow from his chest, through his side and out of his back and is preventing him from taking care of his family.

Christopher Bowman
“I need to work, because I take care of my mom ever since I was a kid growing up. I want to continue doing that because my mom has nothing. I help my mom with everything.”

You see Christopher is from Belize, where for the last eight years his blood tumor has grown from the size of a fist to its current size. It’s so big that doctors in his home country won’t touch it.

Christopher Bowman
“I came here to get well. That’s all I need.”

That’s where Mark Carroll comes in. Mark’s friend in Belize sent a picture of Bowman and soon after Mark had just one question.

Mark Caroll, Friend
“What can I do to help?”

It just so happens, Carroll works for American Airlines and so used his free flight passes to fly Christopher from Belize to Dallas. Since September, the two friends have been searching for the right doctors to perform the life-saving surgery.

Mark Caroll
“It’s extremely hard to treat. It would be an experimental procedure to take care of it. They can’t really operate on it because he would bleed out, because the tumor so large.”

According to Mark, doctors at Parkland Hospital and U.T. Southwestern may try to cauterize the blood source with an electrical wire. However, nothing has been set in stone, mainly because of cost.

The clock is ticking, because the tumor is starting to press against Christopher’s lungs. Despite the odds, Carroll still prays that Christopher’s trip to Dallas will eventually lead to a miracle and a happy homecoming.

Mark Caroll
“I can’t wait to send him back to Belize healthy. His heart is back home.”

Jay Gormely, CBS Eleven News.

If you would like to assist Christopher, contact his mother Odessa Orosco at 600-6778.