MONROVIA – An ailing Liberian lady, Linda Meilour Poquee currently in India is seeking financial help from humanitarians, friends and well-meaning Liberians at home and abroad to continue her treatment.
Ms. Poquee, a native of Tappita City in Nimba County, and an alumnus of St. Francis Catholic High School in Tappita was first diagnosed with eye cancer at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Monrovia last year, and following unsuccessful surgeries, she was advised to seek advanced medication abroad.
With the help of a Liberian Journalist Eunice Famatta Thomas of Firestone radio in Harbel, Margibi County, funds were generated through SOS calls, and were used to transport her to India where she immediately began seeking treatment at the Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune City. But currently, she has run out of money and the hospital has discontinued the treatment, making her to relapse.
“As things stand, she’s stranded because the hospital is a private place. They said she should do chemotherapy and just a round costs US$800. She did six straight rounds and now nowhere to turn,” Miss Olivia Paul, a childhood friend and former schoolmate told FrontPage Africa.
Miss Paul, along with friends and family members, has embarked on a fundraising campaign through the mainstream and social media to help their ailing relative.
Explaining her ordeal, Ms. Poquee said it all started three years ago when “little flesh started growing in the corner of her left eye.” She then went to the New Eye Sight Clinic in 72nd, Paynesville to see a doctor and was advised do a surgery which was performed in May 2021.
Six months after the surgery, she said a knot started growing behind her ear, at the back of the same eye that was operated on. It grew so big and burst with fluid oozing out, and at the same time blood coming out of the eye, she narrated.
“I went back there and they said they could do nothing. So, I decided to go to the 14 Military Hospital to see a doctor and they decided again to do surgery on the knot because the fluid and blood kept coming out. Then in April 2022, doctors operated on the knot at 14 Military Hospital,” she further explained.
About a month and a half after the surgery, she said two knots grew right back; one at the same spot of the surgery and one over the left ear. At this point, she decided to go to the JFK Eye Center where she was finally diagnosed of eye cancer, leaving her in severe pain throughout that developed pressure in the eye.
Thereafter, she went looking for Eunice Famatta Thomas at Firestone Radio who helped her to raise the money that was used for her travel to India and the first medication.
“I am just living by the Grace of God and waiting on Him to work through anyone listening and reading my story to help me. I am really living in hell and there is no way out,” she said while sobbing over the phone.
Miss Poquee can be contacted in India on her WhatsApp number- +231886302688, while Miss Olivia Paul can be reached via +231886530975/+231770530975 .