Medical expenses for 12 yr old footballer airlifted to ICU
Donation protected
Cole Reuben is a 12-year old boy from Barbados who loves school and football. Although just a first form student of the Christ Church Foundation School (CCFS) he has already made his impact. Avid reader, honour roll student and great defensive footballer on the CCFS U14 football team are just a few of his accolades so far. Cole Reuben is also a born leader, and leads as form captain of his class, 1 Alpha 1, and is the Academic Coordinator on his school's Student Council. He is gifted, talented, kind, empathetic, loving, pure, intelligent, and the youngest of 3 siblings. His friendly and empathetic nature makes him well loved by all who come into contact with him.
On April 5th 2024 Cole Reuben celebrated his 12th birthday with his 2 older siblings. However it was not a typical birthday. He sensed that something was wrong due to the way his legs and body were feeling. A few tests and a few days later on April 14th Cole Reuben was admitted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, having suffered a stroke and loss of functional movement of his left leg. This was the start of what has so far been a 7-week journey with an unknown, potentially rare, debilitating and life threatening disorder. This has definitely been a painful journey for Cole Reuben. A once very active and happy boy is now facing what some deem insurmountable challenges to get back to the quality of life he once had and be able to return to school and play football again.
At the moment Cole Reuben is without capacity to communicate via speech, he is being tube fed and his ability to move is quite limited.
One of the scariest moments for me as his mama was experiencing first hand his near death experience and watching his fragile body shut down right before my eyes. Cole Reuben had to be placed in an induced coma and ventilated in order to save his life. At this point all I could do was pray to Jehovah. I did not know what the outcome would be but I prayed for a positive outcome and for God's will to be done. Over the next few days I watched over him and prayed over him as he lay in hospital fighting for his life. Another scary moment for me was hearing a very dire prognosis for his recovery which appeared to hold little to no hope. His near death experience ripped my heart apart but at the same time strengthened my faith and belief in God. It ratified the notion or the point of view of whose report will you believe. Will you believe what the doctors told you or will you believe the promises told to you by God. The choice was mine and his also. However it was also up to God.
Stabilizing and caring for Cole Reuben was quite critical and I am grateful for the supportive guidance and commitment from the senior consultant and his team of doctors, nurses and therapists at QEH who stabilised Cole Reuben. Throughout this process a myriad of tests were done to try to ascertain the cause of the condition which resulted in the multiple brain infarctions. Realising the many limitations, the time constraints, the lack of appropriate testing laboratories, lack of medical equipment in Barbados, the opinions of specialist neurologists and neuro immunologists and hospitals were sought internationally.
Very quickly we were airlifted out of Barbados into an ICU in Colombia. Indeed I am thankful to the whole team of Colombian doctors, nurses, therapists (respiratory, physio, occupational) , geneticists, hematologists, neurologists who are currently assessing and caring for Cole Reuben at Fundacion Valle del Lili, Cali, Colombia. Cole Reuben still has a myriad of ongoing tests to determine the cause of condition including genetic DNA sequencing and Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein (MOG) to name just two of them.
As a mother we always want what is best and good for our children. We don't like when our children are unwell and so it is with this basic desire within that has catapulted me to seek and obtain the best medical and rehabilitative treatment possible for Cole Reuben. My hope, and I know his hope too, is to be able to return to school and play football again.
All funds will go towards full recovery of Cole Reuben including but not limited to medical expenses, living expenses, accommodation and any travel expenses.
Please forward this message to your contacts to help the campaign reach its target. We are hopeful for a full recovery for Cole Reuben. Thank you to all family, friends, strangers, well wishers, who have prayed for, encouraged or supported us thus far on this journey.
#HelpColeReubenReturnToSchoolAndPlayFootballAgain #Miracle-ColeReuben
Organizer and beneficiary
Nicole Scantlebury
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
Robert Simmons
Beneficiary