To Whom It May Concern:

I am Gary Powell. I have recently been told that my Mitral Valve, which is the main
valve in the heart is not closing properly and is leaking severely. It, therefore,
requires surgery which cannot be done in Jamaica and is very expensive.

I have written to many notable organizations seeking funding as this is a lot of money
for a school teacher. I have planned several fundraising activities, the first of which
was on February 21, 2007. However, I still have not been able to acquire enough funds
to pay for the operation . I am, therefore, seeking your help wherever possible.

I thank you for your concern and the interest you are showing. I will gladly forward to
you ant additional information you may require. I can be contacted at any of the
following telephone numbers: 876-378-2430 or 876-543-3666. A special account is a
National Commercial Bank in Junction account #884096979.

Your kind assistance will be highly appreciated.

I had the privilege of meeting Gary Powell through the Treasure Girls Cricket Team. It was Gary and Silvan James who were responsible for starting up the whole women's cricket team for South St. Elizabeth. And it was Gary who brought all those hand-outs of cricket rules and regulations to the matches making me study them on the side lines.

We have held two matches with the Treasure Girls and other teams trying to raise $$ for this worthy cause.

Gary is currently teaching at the B.B. Cooke Comprehensive High School located in Junction, ST. ELizabeth. He needs to raise about $60,000 US for this operation.

Best wishes to Gary for raising the necessary funds and for good health.

I too suffer from Mitral Valve Prolapse and I am wondering what the reason is this surgery can't be done in JA?

have you checked out surgery in other countries? Medical tourism is a growing trend and I understand that in some countries you can get the same surgery that you would get in the US for a fraction of the cost. I have a friend in the US that needed heart bypass surgery which would have cost over $100,000 and went to India and had successful surgery for $8700.00 and that included airfare and lodging. It might be something to look into. I'm sure you can just google "medical tourism."

Hi Gary,in Englad you can get your surgery done for free a lot of people leave the US and go to England and have there surgery done you dont have to be a resident of England there medical is free for everyone if your are there on vacation or not so i hope you know some one in England, when you get there go to the emergency room when you see the doctor tell them the same exact symptoms that you told the doctor in Jamaica let them know that you have a heart problem ,good luck and God bless please let me know if you are planning to go to England please go that's your best bet.

wrong information, surgery is not done in Englang for free. I know someone who used to live in england like myself and went there on vacation and got sick and had to pay hundreds of dollars for medical also I went to the emergency room. That may be in the fifties and sixties when we went there, not anymore. So Garry I would ask around before you go there and waste your money.

The information I've read about medical treatment in India and other countries, talked about the well trained and attentive nurses that take care of you after surgery. And there are a lot of them, so they aren't overstressed and overextended with too many patients, like in the US. Sounds good to me!

HI concer,I went to England my self from the US and had my surgery done that's two years a go and i know of other people that had there surgery done in England the medical there are free just like Canada or even better.

Canada & England is socialize medicine you have to be on a waiting list.

I wouldn't call medicine in Canada free really... I think we are one of the only places in the world who pay a minimum (based on your income) of $300.00 in "Health Tax" per year now. They factor it in when you complete your Income Tax return. And in Canada there are very LONG wait times for specific surgeries (joint replacements, transplants and the like)... Even if you have money, you can't just walk into a clinic or hospital in Canada and get surgery done. Our government has fought for years against privatization, yet our healthcare the way it is now is swirling down the proverbial toilet. There are very few private clinics offering surgery either. We don't have the option of "paying for surgery" like in a lot of the privatized hospitals and clinics in the States. A lot of Canadians in turn do go to the States or Mexico to have certain surgeries done that they can afford to pay for.

Hospital/medical care is not free to foreigners coming to Canada. We Canadians pay for our healthcare via our taxes. It would cost $$$ to a foreigner for an operation here as well.

Good luck Gary.

Good luck Gary, I wish you all the very best in raising the funds for your surgery
However people suggesting that you travel to the UK to get free health treatment are a little deluded and possibly out of date with the current policies. Especially when UK tax paying citizens often have to wait months, years for life threatening surgery or to sometimes just see a consultant.
Again, good luck. May god be with you through this

Gary, one of the things you can do is get in touch with WAVS Radio, The Winston Barnes Show which broadcasts here in South Florida between 12:00pm - 1:00pm, and ask the community here for help. I know of a case where the listeners tried to help someone in Jamaica with a similar situation. Good Luck

I have 2 close friends who moved from the US to England a few years ago. But now any time 1 of them needs medical care or even dental care they fly back to the US to have it done (she has dual citizenship as she was born in England). The health care situation is so bad that they are moving back to the US. I don't understand all of this, all I'm saying is nothing is free & things may not be as good as they look in some situations. I hope & pray that you can get the help that you need. Someone very close to me had heart valve surgery last year & is doing very well. They replaced his valve with a valve from a pig. God bless all the animals who help us!!

hi conern good luck, after reading these letters to gary about free surgery in england, who is right now. Gary would go to england and waste his fund on your information. Gary we will pray for you.May the grace of our Lord and Saviour heal your sick body and make you whole again.

Medical Tourism that might be it Gary,get in touch with the DESTINATION MANAGEMENT GROUP in Treasure Beach they should be able to help in situations like this ,good luck.

I dont mean to sound crude, but is Mr.Powell reading all your messages.
He has not said anything since he posted his message..
I'm just wndering if he's reading all the discussions.
My prayers are with you Gary...