Vincentian teen begins cancer treatment in the UK

Following the report of a 13-year-old Vincentian girl who was being refused life-saving cancer treatment and threatened with expulsion from the United Kingdom (UK), a ray of hope has shone through.

According to a post made on the Dickson Community Center Facebook page (June 22, 2015), Dedra Crichton will remain in the UK and has already begun receiving some treatment.{{more}}

The post also stated: “Dedra is not out of the woods yet. Your continued prayers and support [are] needed. We want to say a heartfelt thank you to all who reached out to the family at this time and made your contribution even if it was just sharing a post or signing a petition.”

The post also stated that her father Roamel Crichton has set up a ‘Go Fund Me’ account (at http://www.gofundme.com/xfeeg9s) for those who wish to make a financial contribution to her treatment.

The ‘Go Fund Me’ account also states that the medical treatment is very expensive as Dedra’s affliction is a rare form of bone cancer known as osteosarcoma.

In the June 23 edition of SEARCHLIGHT, it was reported that Dedra had been denied medical treatment in the UK, and was scheduled to be deported as soon as a suitable person could be found to accompany her back to St Vincent on the flight.

Dedra’s father Roamel Crichton, in an interview with The Daily Mail, said that as a British citizen, he was expecting that his daughter would be allowed to seek treatment under the National Health Service (NHS).

Crichton is originally from St Vincent and the Grenadines but migrated to the UK in 2003 to join the UK Navy, where he still serves as a Petty Officer.