It is time for the community to come together once more and help a family in need says Rolfe Commissiong, a childhood friend of Garry Dill, a father of four suffering from congestive heart failure.

Mr Dill, 57, needs a heart transplant, but due to his condition he would be required to move abroad for more than a year, during which time his employee health insurance would lapse, leaving the family with no other option than paying for Mr Dill’s medical expenses out-of-pocket.

“I want Bermudians to consider that this is a monumental challenge this family is facing.

“Even if all the insurance questions are answered and finance is in place, you’re still looking at a family with an ailing father having to relocate to the US with three of their four children.

“They are going to need help on a number of fronts, and I am confident that we can do this,” said Mr Commissiong.

With less than two months to spare before Mr Dill’s condition deteriorates to the point where he will need to be hospitalised, Mr Commissiong is calling on all of Bermuda to step up to the wicket and help those among us most in need.

“I know the family right now is highly unsettled,” said Mr Commissiong. “They have a lot of insecurities over how they’re going to be able to get the resources necessary to ensure Garry gets the best care available — whether that be here, in the US, or anywhere else.”

Mr Dill’s employer, P & M Electrical Services & Supply Limited, has agreed to keep Mr Dill on the company’s health insurance for six months, according to the family, but Mr Dill’s treatment, said a spokeswoman from Brigham and Women’s hospital in Boston, could take far longer than that.

“He’s still going to need a lot of help. He’s going to need the Bermuda community — as we’ve done in the past — to rally around him and his family to ensure that he gets all the help that he needs,” said Mr Commissiong.

“I know that the Bermuda Heart Foundation are about to open an account for companies to make donations, and I commend them for doing that. We need to do what we can, no matter how big or small, in terms of contributions to help Garry and his family.”

Simone Barton, director of the Bermuda Heart Foundation, said: “This family has many challenges ahead of them. It is our hope that both the local and corporate community will rally to assist with any donations no matter how small. In times like this every penny truly does get to the heart of matter.”

And Mr Commissiong called on Government itself to do what it can to help Mr Dill, his wife, Janet, and their four daughters.

“I also would hope that the government itself could find a way to help, and I make a direct appeal to the Premier, Mr Cannonier, and the Health Minister, Mr Moniz, to see what they can do to assist this family, because the need really is that great.”