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As a registered nurse, Jadeene Burnett has assisted in saving the lives of dozens of patients, but currently she is helpless as she watches her only child, Jhenesa Didia, suffers from a medical condition.

The six-month-old is currently admitted at the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital battling complex congenital heart disease. Her condition affects the normal flow of blood through the heart.

"This is my daughter and I am helpless with her right now. I do not know what to do. This is our first child and I really want her to get a chance at life. It's like I don't know where to go or find help. I usually have the answers but not this time. It has been really hard," Burnett said.

Abnormal sound

Jhenesa was diagnosed with heart disease shortly after she was born and now requires multiple life-saving surgeries.

"After she was born, the paediatrician said when they listened to her heart they heard an abnormal sound so they recommended other tests that were done outside the hospital," she said. Most congenital heart defects have no known cause. This is a problem that occurs as the baby's heart is developing during pregnancy, before the baby is born.

"The tests revealed that there were multiple things wrong with her heart. They referred us to the cardiologist and they did other tests and found more things that were wrong with her heart, and based on what they found, they are saying that surgery cannot be done in Jamaica and surgery is the only way to correct the defect," she said.

Burnett said Boston Children's Hospital will do the surgery but it costs US$232,141 (approximately J$34 million). A GoFundMe account has so far raised less than US$5,500. The family is therefore seeking the public's assistance in reaching the required goal as time is running out.

"The doctors said the surgery needs to be done within six to 12 months of the baby's life. She is already halfway there so we really need to get it done now. Her condition has actually gotten worse because, as we speak, she is admitted at the hospital because her cardiac failure has worsened. I am humbly asking the public for help as I want our little girl to live," Burnett said.

Per sons wishing to assist little Jhenesa Didia may contact her mother Jadeene Burnett at 876 330-7979.