Give them a chance

GIVE THEM A CHANCE

Hello, my name is Valda Reid from the United Kingdom, and I am fundraising for my great grandchildren in Jamaica, and asking for your help to Give them a chance.

No words can ever express the sadness I felt at the loss of my eldest daughter, Faynel, who died in September 2022, having tragically succumbed to a bout of pneumonia from being exposed to flood waters in her local area in St. Ann’s, Jamaica. The pain was worsened as I was not present when she passed, as I live in the United Kingdom, and was not made aware at the time of the gravity of her situation.

Although nothing can lessen the pain of losing a child which no parent should have to experience, I had to find the resolve to focus on supporting my grand-daughter, Shalemah, a young mother, and my great grandson, Marlon who was age 7 at the time when he lost his grandmother whom he was very close to.

Imagine my utter amazement and joy to learn in that same year that Shalemah was to be blessed with having triplets, which she conceived through natural means. It is difficult to explain the emotions of ‘joy and pain’ at the same time, which as the song says, was like ‘sunshine and rain’.

On 15th March 2023, 11 months after Faynel’s passing, Shalemah gave birth to her triplets, two boys, Shamari and Shaquan, and a girl Shanasia, all equally weighing 5lbs. They were born by caesarean section, and were all healthy and doing well. This truly was a celebration for the island of Jamaica who experienced not twin births, but triplets.

The hospital deemed the triplets fit and well, and able to go home with mum after only three days in hospital, which to my mind was too soon for a new mother having had triplets.

Within 12 days of being home, Shalemah’s health started to deteriorate, and she developed a cough that would not subside, and she eventually lost her short battle for life due to post-delivery complications.

To have experienced the loss of my granddaughter within less than a year of losing my daughter, and knowing that her babies would never know their mother or grandmother is a pain that is unbearable and cannot be explained. I struggle daily to make any sense of it. I know nothing can bring them back, and that I must remain strong and resolute for my all great-grandchildren, especially for Marlon who was 8-years of age at the time of the loss of his mother, so old enough to experience grief, having lost both great matriarchs in his life.

Were they born in Europe or America, there would be social care systems in place to offer support and resources, which is not so accessible in Caribbean. I continue to work and make every effort to step into the gap whichever way I can to support their life chances with basic care, nurturing and health needs. The local communities have stretched out their hands to help where they can, but the children need financial help from other wider networks and communities.

I pray with your help, this ‘Go Fund Me’ campaign will reach to a wide donor network, who can empathise with the fact that these babies and their older brother will have to grow up without a mother or maternal grandmother to nurture them.

The triplets are currently being cared for by their father and paternal grandmother, who need as much financial help as they can to cover the immediate and long-term costs of childcare and other needs. I am sure you can imagine what the cost of nappies, baby formula for three growing children will be, and as they grow, their needs are increasing.

They are resilient babies and have already had to overcome a health crisis, as all contracted and have recovered from Dengue fever. They deserve the best care that money can buy.

The target which I am setting for this Go Fund Me campaign is £40k, which will be £10k for each child. Any amount of donations would be truly appreciated, and will make a difference for their lives both now and in the future, as some of the funds will be invested for their education.

I am thanking you in advance for your support and the chance you will be giving them to have a sustainable life.

I thank you on behalf of all the children for the love and kindness that your donations will mean to their lives, and that you will help to

GIVE THEM A CHANCE.

Stay Blessed.

Valda Reid

Maternal Great-Grandmother