‘The pain, it terrible’
Bedridden woman desperate for surgery to regain independence
Just two years after grappling with the brutal death of her son Swain Lawton, who was stabbed to death, Lilly Brown is now struggling with the loss of her mobility that has left her bedridden and unable to care for herself.
THE STAR
The 61-year-old told that about five months ago, she started to feel pain in her left leg. A subsequent diagnosis of poor circulation was made. Roughly three months later, Brown, who is a diabetic, discovered two large sores on her left foot, both of which would not heal.
“Dem seh the vein dem block suh dem have to operate on them. The vein dem in the toes dem not functioning suh nuh blood nah get to the toe dem,” Brown said, adding that she now lives in excruciating pain.
“The pain, it terrible, it unbearable, mi bawl day and night,” Brown said as her voice cracked.
To regain her mobility, Brown needs a corrective procedure to facilitate proper blood flow. This surgery, Brown was told, can only be done at the Manchester Regional Hospital and costs $2 million. But Brown does not have this amount.
“I don’t know weh fi find the first dollar, mi nuh have that kind a money. But mi need the surgery because every day mi in a pain and mi can’t duh nothing fi mi self. Nothing, mi a tell yuh,” said Brown, adding that she is now being cared for by her son David Lawton. He told THE STAR that over the last five months, he has not only had to care and provide financially for his mother, but has witnessed her dealing with excruciating pain.
“She going through a lot, man, pure pain. From last November she have sleepless nights, night and day she cah sleep; pure pain. She going through a hard time,” Lawton said.
Prior to becoming bedridden, Brown, who hails from St Mary, was a janitor and the sole caregiver of another son, who is epileptic. Both he and Brown have to be cared for by Lawton now. Brown, who also battles hypertension and lost one of her kidneys 20 years ago, told THE STAR that despite her ailments, she was getting by, managing to provide for her and her epileptic son. However, now Brown has to take five different medications each day just to survive. This includes insulin, medication to regulate her pressure, two medications to manage her pain and one to help with circulation.
“Mi nuh wah live like this, mi nuh wah spend mi days a lay down in a bed a bawl fi a pain. But mi really nuh have di money fi duh the surgery.
Suh mi need help.
Suh mi would appreciate any help, because mi really need it. Suh any little help at all, mi would a grateful,” Brown said, unable to hold back her tears.