The Tribune

MIAMI, Florida – For the past year, Brittany Burrows, a 17-year-old from Grand Bahama, has been battling “a very aggressive” case of bone cancer.

According to a fund-raising appeal posted on the Internet, in November of 2012, Brittany started experiencing pain on her left shoulder, and “after a few months of increasing pain and swelling, a careful evaluation of her test results revealed she is suffering from a very aggressive Osteosarcoma (bone cancer).”

“Now her dreams and aspirations for a future may be shattered,” the appeal noted. “In order to save her life, Brittany needs intensive chemotherapy and surgery, which are not available to her in the Bahamas. Her family has no financial means to cover the costs of her treatment.”

On August 17, 2013, Brittany had several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation.

“So far the treatment has been successful,” the fund-raising appeal stated. “The spots on her lungs have diminished, and the mass on her shoulder has reduced enough for her to undergo surgery scheduled for September 17.”

On September 18, 2013, it was reported that Brittany had limb amputation surgery the day before and she remains at the hospital for recovery, but the doctors are very hopeful for the future.

Last week, Bahamas Consul General to Miami Ricardo Treco and several senior staff members from the Consulate visited the Ronald McDonald House at the UM Miami Jackson Hospital Complex, where Brittany is recovering and receiving treatment.

Consul General Treco was accompanied by Deputy Consul General Sandra Carey, Vice Consul Tracee Dorestant, and Protocol Officers Caron Green and Rudolph Green.

“The visit was to present all of the children at the centre with a small gift from The Bahamas Consulate in Miami,” Mr Treco said. “The Ronald McDonald House (RMH) has been housing children and their families for over 20 years for the duration of the particular children’s medical treatment. The Bahamas has been very fortunate and blessed by this service, as it is no cost to the children and their parents or caregiver.”

Mr Treco noted that the manager of RMH “mentioned that around 35-50 Bahamian children are guests of this facility on an annual basis.

“The Consulate has agreed to support the RMH by sending a team of our employees to provide cooking services for the entire home on at least two occasions during 2014.”

He noted they got the opportunity to meet Brittany Burrows and “my entire staff and I were extremely amazed by this young lady’s attitude and deportment in light of her unfortunate circumstances.

“She is a student at the Jack Hayward High School and her dream is to become a Registered Nurse.

“She was very happy and excited to see us and we spent some time talking with her. Our gracious Deputy Consul Sandra Carey has extended a Christmas Day invitation for Brittany and her aunt, Mrs Laing, to join her for a day of festivities. We wish to extend to Brittany our support and prayers for her full and complete recovery.”

The first Ronald McDonald House opened in Philadelphia in 1974, and in 1982, “a group of caring individuals, local McDonald’s Owner Operators, prominent doctors, a few corporations and volunteers raised the funds to open the first House in Miami,” according to the RMH website.