Daniel Campbell

Constant heart complications, which initially came to light during a high-school medical examination, have now prompted a student of the St Andrew Technical High School to seek corrective surgery urgently.

Fourteen-year-old eighth-grader Daniel Damion Campbell, who has ambitions of becoming a doctor or auto mechanic, wants to give himself a fair shot at fulfilling those dreams. But he knows only a healthy life will allow him to go the distance.

His mother, Maria Richards-Campbell, says her son's suffering has caused her to slump into depression on a regular basis.

"The situation is depressing ... From the day I took him for his medical, his school nurse told me that his heartbeat was not normal. Since then, I have had to have him do regular check-ups, but it now appears to be getting worse," Richards Campbell said.

THE STAR was told that Daniel has undergone several tests so far.

Richards-Campbell said, "He was given something to swallow and they saw that his blood wasn't flowing properly."

Our news team understands that Daniel is diagnosed with dyplastic mitral valve with left supravalvular AS, which means the procedure to be undertaken to correct that is a mitral valve replacement and aortic root augmental.

THE STAR gathered that the surgery will cost a total of $500,000 and Daniel is urging members of the public to assist so that he can live a normal life.

Daniel said, "Please Jamaica, I am in need of your assistance to help me with my medical expense so that I can live like a normal teenager and pursue my dreams ... God will bless you."

Daniel told THE STAR that he cannot play for too long or walk for too long.

He said, "when I do that, I feel a pain in my heart and I have to stop, sometimes stoop and curl up to try and ease the pain."

According to Richards-Campbell, the only thing she can do at times is rub Daniel with olive oil and pray for him, which is why they are urgently seeking the public's help.

They are humbly asking those who wish to contribute to do so at the following Jamaica Defence Force Co-operative Credit Union Limited account no. 300972.