WHEN Jahquae Richardson was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, or CF, at the age of seven months, her mother Jimika Astwood prepared herself for a long and painful future. To make matters worse, the little girl suffered third-degree burns while being treated at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital in 2000 when a nurse accidentally dropped a cup of scolding hot tea on her.

Mrs. Astwood said Jahquae was rushed to the Boston Children’s Hospital in the US where she was tested and diagnosed with CF and also treated for her burns.

Jahquae had burns to her chest, right arm and under her chin and doctors told Mrs. Astwood that if the little girl’s right breast did not develop as she got older, she would need a skin graft.

Since then Jahquae has had to return to Boston four times a year for hospitalisation and check-ups and has since also developed cystic fibrosis-related diabetes.

From time to time fundraisers have been organised by various organisations to help the family with medical expenses, but the family are in dire need of $20,000 to purchase a special medical vest eight-year-old Jahquae needs to help her breathe. “The vest will be critical to the everyday maintenance of her therapy, this along with all her other medications,” Mrs. Astwood added.

A local organisation, SISTAHS 4 Love, has stepped up to the plate and organised a walk and run relay tomorrow to help raise the money.

The event starts at 8 a.m. at the Botanical Gardens with various rest stops along the way, ending at Base Gate in St. George’s.

Members of the public have been invited to participate, or make donations to those participating. SISTAHS 4 Love president Larissa Burgess can be contacted at 332-4452 for full details.