Prime Minister Said Musa has at least on one occasion publicly frowned at the media's practice of interviewing persons while they are in the hospital bed. But while it may offend the prime minister's squeamish tolerance, it does provoke his conscience, and tonight thanks to a bedside interview, a needy child is receiving treatment in Merida. 10 year old Jevon Mahler is in Merida receiving treatment for leukemia after the prime minister came through for him. Alfonso Noble was at the young man's bedside again today.
Alfonso NobleReporting,
As Patricia Lanza sat at her son's bedside at the BDF hospital in Price Barracks, she could hardly contain her joy knowing that Jevon was going to be flown out to Merida in but a few hours. She says that the prime minister saw the story last night on 7NEWS and acted to assist the transfer of 10-year-old Jevon.
Patricia Lanza, Jevon's Mother
"The prime minister gave us a hand and helped us with flying him out as quick as possible because we needed to go in a hurry. And with the money for the doctor and so people donate and the family donate and brought us up to a little of money for when we are in there they can do some fundraising to help more."
Jevon waited at the BDF's hospital from at around 10 this morning until about 12:30 when he was transported via ambulance from the hospital to the airwing section of the BDF to be flown out via a BDF defender. Major Dorche explains that the delay in the flight is as a result of protocols that need to be cleared before landing a military plane in Mexico.
Major Dorche,
"The normal procedure for us to fly a patient to Mexico is that we need a flight clearance and normally this is received through the Mexican embassy who then gives us that flight clearance number or actual paper so we can proceed to Mexico and that has been the delay today. Normally there is a Belizean representative out in Merida, I don't know if it is still the same person Mrs. Matus, who is normally there waiting for the patient with an ambulance and failing that we just remain there with the patient until medical assistance come along for the person. This is what we refer to as a medic-vac fit where we have a stretcher or bed for the patient and beside that we have a seat that is used by the medical personnel that will be accompanying that person on the flight."
The flight's duration is approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes
While Jevon is presently in Merida receiving treatment, the family still appeals to the public for any assistance that can be given. Contributions can be deposited at account number 9100249 at Scotia Bank. For reference the first time someone was assisted by the prime minister after one of our bedside interviews was in the case of Lorna Wade who was also flown to Merida.