There is finally some good news to report about Tarrell Sutherland. The five year old was released from the KHMH on Sunday after showing significant improvement. His mother told us his skin looks much better after he received an aggressive antibiotic treatment to smother the infection.
And the second piece of good news is that he and his mother Nicole McDougal are heading to Texas on Wednesday for another regimen of treatment. Continental Airlines today donated the tickets along with a cash gift.
That's just one of the many acts of goodwill that have been coming his way. On Saturday the organization called Proto - people reaching out to others - culminated its week long drive with a Bar-B-Que and mini concert on Albert street right in front of Channel 7's studios.
Mark Usher spearheaded the campaign:
Mark Usher
"The response has been great. I want to cry, but I can't cry on TV Jules, they will laugh. Its been amazing, we had our doubts about it especially the turkey dinner because Friday was a challenging day, it was a work day but fortunately for us, the teachers from Wesley Primary School came on board last minute and they were marvelous with the administration. We got a lot stuff donated at the minute as far as the contents so that the amount of money that Nicole retains then is more. Today we just got up, we were running on fumes and we got out here a bit late and the crowd was already here and the food just went so fast. If you see Tarell and you know Tarell you could do this every day."
"What people have been doing when they bought a food, they would say keep the change from a $50, they don't take the change. Keith Mahler is aggressive on collecting funds on the street. There is not a person I have met Jules, 360,000 people is behind baby Tarell, I am not asking you I am telling you."
Donations were also made by the University of Belize Men's Senior Basketball team fresh off their championship in the Digicell Ballin for Life Competition.
Also making a donating was the Kiwanis foundation. President Paul Lecky told us why they chose this cause:....
Paul Lecky, President - Kiwanis Foundation
"We have been following the story and our focus is on young children priority one. This is a story that has touched all our hearts, so we want to make sure that if we can save a life and this is what we are trying to do. I must say also that it doesn't stop here, we are donating $1,000 today and we want to continue, it's something we will continue for a long time hopefully because this child will need our help for the rest of his life probably. We want to focus on that, so we want to say to the public as well, when you see Kiwanis come asking for help you know that we are doing it for a worthwhile cause and we are going to meet with the mother, we are going to put a program in place so we can go for the long haul. He will needs medication and we are hoping that we will be there for him of course with the help of everyone. The fact is that you can't give everyone all the time but where you can make a difference you must and if it touches your heart, the child is such a wonderful child, you cannot help but want to help him. You cannot help everybody. You got to chose some, he needs a tremendous amount of help and money, we have to rise to the cause. We will do for other children as well, the fact is that he needs it now, so we have to help him now and we will help the others as well."
Tarrell leaves on Wednesday and we'll visit with him at the airport before he goes...His treatment will be facilitated by the Compassionate Hearts Alliance - which has been leading the cause for Tarrell throughout his treatment.
