Nineteen-year-old cancer patient Delmar Braham, who was recently featured in the Jamaica Observer, passed away at the United States Embassy in Kingston yesterday, where he had gone to apply for a visa.
Braham, whose story had touched the hearts of many when the Observer published his appeal for financial assistance to go overseas for treatment, was scheduled to leave the island today for Albany Medical Centre in New York, where he was to receive further treatment.
The young man had developed a rare form of osteosarcoma, which had manifested itself as a huge tumour below his shoulder.
He found out that he had cancer last April and had to quit school at Excelsior High, where he was a sixth-form student.
Braham was with family friend Narda Hamilton, who was helping to take care of him and was also organising the effort to assist him, when he died.
“His parents were there, but I was the one who went inside with him. We went inside through the checkpoint with him in a wheelchair and went to the window. I was there and handed in his passport. I realised he was not breathing and I just started screaming,” a distraught Hamilton told the Jamaica Observer yesterday.
She expressed gratitude to individuals and companies who had assisted and who had expressed an interest in assisting, including Alpart, the Optimist Club, and Sabbatical Clinic.
“He was so close, but so far,” she said.
Braham’s mother was too distraught to speak when contacted yesterday.
Last night, US Ambassador to Jamaica Luis Moreno expressed sorrow at Braham’s passing.
“We are saddened by this tragedy and I want to express the Embassy’s deepest condolence to his family,” Ambassador Moreno said.
RIP to this young man, why the take so long to give this young man assistance.
these f^ckers some heartless pieces of $h!t, the man was obvious ill and had to go through the same process as able bodied people?
No exception?
Coulda sick likkle more, just be grateful they were giving him the damn visa, cause dem nuh obligated to nobody, no matter the circumstance!
A dat nuff a unnuh nuh seem fi realise!
Mek them stay deh think the us could care less or give a flying f**k……..
Him Neva wah go.
Spoon f**k off and shut up your inhumane self.
Yes, Spoon shut the f*k up!!!!
I swear people who lived no life in Jamaica and who didn’t take advantage of public education always think other country’s are the shit!!
I think the boy got so nervous and maybe had a heart attack. Sad
Spoon you sound f**king stupid. People have rights that type of animalistic treatment would never go for an American. Should a glad them give him visa? But look how they gave it to him? Guy probably worried himself to death. Please think before you speak in the future and check your ignorance duh mi a beg you. RIP (return if possible) young man your family and loved ones miss u❤️