Who will help Randy Robateau who suffers from ichthyosis?

In November 2009, the Belizean public was introduced to four-year-old Tarrell Sutherland who was diagnosed with ichthyosis, a rare condition which causes the skin to become dry, thick and scaly.  At the time he was diagnosed as the second person in the country to be afflicted with the disease.  Since then Randy Robateau has also been identified as suffering from ichthyosis.  Treatment for his condition is available abroad; however, the steep price is preventing him from seeking help in the United States.  The Statistical Institute of Belize has stepped in to assist with much needed funds for treatment in neighboring Mexico and through a series of activities geared towards raising twenty thousand dollars for Robateau.

Jacqueline Ireland, Mother of Randy Robateau

“Actually in the U.S. it would cost about forty thousand [dollars] for his treatment but a doctor here in Belize City by the name of Yisela Flores she told us that in Mexico it would be a lot more cheaper so right now we are seeing what kind of assistance we can get for him.”

Isani Cayetano

Jacqueline Ireland

“In terms of dealing with this medical condition how has the family been able to assist either in his treatment or what’s the general dynamic of the family been like?”

Jacqueline Ireland

“It’s hard because Randy had this skin problem like two days after he was born and it’s only me, by myself, doing it all along and one day I couldn’t go to work and I called them and I told them that I couldn’t make it and I was at the hospital and then they came over to see me and they told me that there must be something that they can do to help get the assistance.  So the Statistical Institute of Belize they are the ones that are doing the fundraising and trying to help me to find the money to get his medication.”

Giselle Borland

Giselle Borland, Human Resources Assistant, SIB

“Recently we had a dinner sale and now we’re actually doing a relathon which will leave Cayo at six on the third of December and will reach Belmopan at eight and that’s at the Governor General’s Field.  We will have a fun day for kids, we’ll be having Santa Claus, Ozzy [the Clown] and it’s just to come out and support for us to send Randy abroad to Mexico to undergo treatment.”

Isani Cayetano

“How did you guys get involved with assisting Randy?”

Giselle Borland

“Well like I said we had done the fundraising before and we have been contacting doctors, along with his mother, to see what’s the best treatment because they had already said that it would be U.S. right, treatment is in the U.S. but it’s very expensive.  It’s forty thousand [dollars], Mexico is a little bit cheaper so we’re trying to go for that.”

Isani Cayetano

“Do you have a contact number or a bank account in which monies could be deposited or sent to you?”

Jacqueline Ireland

“My account number is 214867 and the cell number is 636-5912.”

Isani Cayetano

“Which bank?”

Jacqueline Ireland

“Belize Bank.”