Good News for Christopher Bowman

There’s finally some good news for Christopher Bowman who has been suffering with a tumor for more than a decade. If all goes according to plan, Bowman will be flying out to the United States for urgent surgery. While his condition has worsened significantly, there is hope that the new round of medical interventions will successfully remove the tumor. News Five’s Delahnie Bain has an update on the Bowman, who we have been following for the past three years.

Delahnie Bain, Reporting

For the past thirteen years of his life, Christopher Bowman has been suffering with a tumor in his chest that is taking over his body. And after numerous pleas for assistance, Bowman may finally receive the surgery he needs to remove the growth. Emilio Zabaneh, who lives in Mango Creek, is one of the persons working to make the trip abroad possible.

emilio zabaneh

Via Phone: Emilio Zabaneh, Assisting Christopher Bowman

“There’s a doctor in the states who is trying to assess his medical records to see if they can help. If that is something favorable then he will go to the states as soon as possible.  We are also trying to get him to be looked at by Mayo Clinic, who turned him down before but they are looking at the case and maybe with a different team of doctors, they are looking to see if they could help through other sources.”

Christopher Bowman, Suffering from Tumor

Christopher Bowman

“I feel good yoh know. God answered my prayers and dehn thing deh so right. Cause I really noh care weh pah I have to go I just want get this ova with and mek everybody si me feel happy and healthy and get wah lee work fi do.”

Locally, Bowman’s plight has also caught the attention of several individuals and organizations.

Via Phone: Emilio Zabaneh

“We just got some information out of the Ministry of Health that the Taiwanese people want to look at his record to see if they could help and if they can’t then they are also willing to help financially as well.  The mayor of Belize City is getting involved, trying to get some help out of Venezuela as well.  I understand too the Social Security Board is doing a national fundraiser; a raffle of sorts. Something where you pay a little more than you would for a ticket, but you get something for your money.”

But it’s a bittersweet story as Bowman’s condition continues to deteriorate. The tumor is starting to paralyze him and he is now confined to a wheelchair.

Odessa Orosco, Mother of Christopher Bowman

odessa orosco

“Christopher can’t feel nothing inna ih right foot; di right foot gone sake ah weh di tumor eat down di bone to ih spine and di tumor di rest pan ih back right now too. Di left foot di look fi cave een pan he right now too.”

Christopher Bowman

“I can’t even manage fi go dah bathroom nor bathe or nothing; dah my ma have to di help me out fi do dehn things deh because I too defective fi move like how I deh eena wheelchair and my foot paralyzed and dehn thing deh. I can’t even move myself, even if I stand up my spine he crunch down.  When I go sleep I sleep straight forward cause this thing hurt me like crazy. Right now I di got lee problems fi eat because like I can’t even—yesterday I di try eat mi dinner and like mi stomach he noh di get strength fi eat all ah mi dinner and I can’t digest and dehn thing deh so.”

The clock is ticking but Bowman’s family and friends have renewed hope with the assistance he is getting.

Via Phone: Emilio Zabaneh

“We want to see Chris in the states by the weekend. That’s our hope; whether that is going to happen or not, that’s a matter of time. But we really believe that Chris is alive for more than what he’s been going through. We’ve seen people’s lives being touched because of this case in ways that are just supernatural and you can’t really explain. So we know he is alive for a reason.”

Christopher Bowman

“I di fight with all my life right now just fi be wah happy person without this curse eena my chest cause I dah wah fighter yoh know. I noh wah give up.”

And as he prepares to travel to the US for surgery, Bowman is holding strong to his faith and keeps praying for the best. Delahnie Bain for News Five.