Assistance needed for child with brain tumor

Young Philz is suffering from a brain tumor
Young Philz is suffering from a brain tumor

Having a child diagnosed with the flu is bad news for any parent but for Maureen and Timothy Viville, of the Kalinago Territory, knowing that their five-year-old son is suffering from an enlarged and growing brain tumor has been a nightmare.

That nightmare began on December 17, 2014 when Philz Viville’s parents noticed that he began vomiting consistently and was feverish. He was taken to the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) for a doctor’s visit and was given treatment for fever and vomiting and sent home.

Ten days later the family was back at the hospital because the vomiting would not stop. The young child was admitted because he was slightly dehydrated. He was released on the December 30, 2014 and diagnosed with gastroenteritis.

“We were given treatment and advised to return if the vomiting continued,” Maureen Viville, Philz’s mother, told Dominica News Online.

But the child’s conditions worsened when Philz complained of vision problems.

“On the afternoon of the 8th of January, he said that he wasn’t seeing clearly,” Viville stated. “He was asked to point out certain objects and he didn’t know where they were located because he couldn’t see.”

Concerned, the parents rushed back to the hospital and according to Viville, the child became “unresponsive” along the way.

A head scan was done at the hospital and it was then the parents received the devastating news that Philz had a brain tumor.

They were told that emergency surgery was required and this could only be done in Martinique.

The parents were able to procure some assistance with the help of Dr. Rhonda Mc Intyre, of the Children’s Heart Fund, and the Government of Dominica and Philz was sent to Martinique.

The Children’s Heart Fund donated in excess of EC$32,000 for the surgery, however it cost in the region of €15,000- €20,000.

Viville said Philz has so far done a preliminary surgery in which fluid and brain tissue were removed to test for cancer and find ways to proceed in removing the actual tumor.

She noted that removal of the tumor is entirely dependent on the results.

The family is soliciting the public’s assistance financially and through prayers.

Those who are interested in contributing can do so at the Royal Bank of Canada account number 7103369 or at GoFundMe, account “Hope for Phil” by Gillen Williams.

For updates on Philz’s condition visit the Facebook page ‘Pray for Philz.’

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42 Comments

  1. k.t
    January 20, 2015

    You have our full support. We can’t just sit there and say ‘it is what it is’, otherwise that way will ride all over us. Politics run health but health don’t run politics

  2. Peter Potter
    January 20, 2015

    All of us that have an income should donate at least $5 for the little boy to give him a lifeline. $5 does not hurt that much. I’ll go to the bank this morning and make my donation. It’s gonna be more than $5.

  3. January 20, 2015

    2nd Chronicles 16: 12
    And king Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet,until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD ( JEHOVAH ) but to the physicians.
    God is still in the healing business. HE is the same yesterday,today and forever. It’s just the faith to trust HIM and believe.
    My prayers go out to this little one and his immediate family…

    • February 24, 2015

      Chris Mann:

      Than you for expressing your belief in the healing power of the living God!

      More people would be healed if they knew what the Bible says about healing.

      It is important to take into consideration everything the Bible says about disease and healing and not base a teaching on one isolated verse. This principle holds true when it comes to any subject in the Bible.

      Allow me to comment on 2 Chronicles 16:12. It states that King Asa sought help from physicians. This was good thing. But the King did not seek the Lord. This was a failure on his part. We are allowed to see a doctor. But we should also pray. Sometimes God heals directly without a doctor!

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.

  4. Mahaut talk roro
    January 20, 2015

    What about oversea people should send the money to the same account. What’s the routing number for the bank to wire money

  5. So sad!
    January 19, 2015

    This is so sad but the worst part is the misdiagnoses this child endured which must have caused him so much unnecessary pain and discomfort. May God be with Philz during this time and may His will be done in his young life. These surgeries are costly overseas per person and Government must make it a priority to have them done here, even if it means having the facililties and importing the brain surgeons when necessary. It would be very useful to know the number of doctors we have here and their respective specialities. We need to focus our medical scholarships on students wanting to do surgery. It seems we have a large number of non-surgical medical doctors but our people need increasingly more surgeries.

  6. ATKINSON
    January 19, 2015

    Very sad, but i hope and sure the doctors will find the cure forPhilz. God bless you and your family. I am sending in my donations in the moring. And i am sure you will live to be centurion. Stay strong

  7. out of south city
    January 19, 2015

    This is very sad to know. To the parents, be strong and may you have peace.
    ONE LOVE

  8. pozitive blessings
    January 19, 2015

    may god bless you dear boy. i proclaim his healing on you. may the tumor disappear and you be restored to good health again. my well wishes to you from the bottom of my heart. all will be well

  9. white oak
    January 19, 2015

    i am truly sorry to say this cuz dis child is innocent!! i dun anticipate thumbs dwn ………..but d parents support d labour party…even campaign hard for Darroux……. dat should b nothing for mr dem to pay.he come to all u begging for vote go and c if he can help all u.How much millions spend to bring dwn artist who didnt even need d money and c nw where we have one of our own fightin for his life and is on DNO it ending up? ah magway sah!! so all u not seeing dat government is just about themselves and they will continue to go thru great length to throw it in our faces.

    • faceup
      January 19, 2015

      So very true :(

    • Tilia
      January 19, 2015

      You are so sick, if the parents did not go to the Govt wat do u expect; I know of a very strong uwpite who got over $70,000 so why wouldn’t the Govt help with this child

    • SMH
      January 19, 2015

      you damn right. I not giving u no thumbs down. they give them plywood and galvanize costing over 50thousand now they cant sponsor a little 20 thousands euro. they will still vote again for the same set while their children dying and they cant help themselves.
      Lord help those of us who have to depend on others to help us when our family members are in desperate need .I pray God that he survives and be a living testimony to the wickedness of the labor party,

    • Plywood
      January 19, 2015

      I don’t know twhy the hospital did not pick that up on his second visit. They should have done urgently a scan then. They need to look at all angles, That is also the symptom of brian tumour and with all that vomiting. I have no doubt that he had headaches.
      I wish a complete recovery.

    • January 20, 2015

      White Oak, your name must be what it says. Is this the only topic that one can debate in this country? What has this child done to anyone that he and his family should be castigated from someone like you? This is an illness that anyone can have and you must be reminded that illness does not knock on one door but on many doors. Rejoice not of other people’s dilemma. Your statements are truly disheartening. It is time to turn to the Lord and pray for the healing of this young child, he in the future of our country and if we say that we have God in us, let his light shine for he who does not have God in him only brews hatred.

    • January 24, 2015

      politics politics politics. when will you guys ever stop acting the fool. you are allowing a 5yr old child to pay for his parents democratic rights. come on you guys from the choice of words obviously voted the uwp party. If your child fall sick today or tomorrow wouldn’t that same family help? Ask yourself that question and if you don’t feel a shame of yourself then your words speak for itself.

  10. hmmm
    January 19, 2015

    http://www.gofundme.com/k1ghok This is the link to donate online on the gofundme account

  11. Neutral
    January 19, 2015

    My prayers are with you . Trust in God. God Blessings to you always.

  12. Think About It
    January 19, 2015

    I often ask myself why don’t the government have some fund set aside for when a citizen of the country is in dire need of medical treatment of this magnitude they can fly them overseas to get the treatment they need? I feel so bad for this kid and family,as an RN in the US I know exactly what they are going through. We set aside funds for Carnival,Queen shows,Calypso competitions ets but what is much needed is place on the back burner,sad very sad indeed. To all who helped finically, pray, send their love may Jehovah bless their every effort.

  13. derp
    January 19, 2015

    also alternative forms of medicine have and are know to work to help reduce/kill brain tumor cells

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/18/marijuana-brain-cancer_n_6181060.html

  14. qstorm78
    January 19, 2015

    Here’s the GoFundMe link
    http://www.gofundme.com/k1ghok

  15. faceup
    January 19, 2015

    Awww I wish the little boy the best and I should do my best….BUT I HAVE SAID ALREADY CUBAN DOCTORS AND DOCTORS TRAINED CUBA I have no confidence in them, in other words, THEY NOT GOOD, THEY ARE A WASTE OF TIME… Calling themselves doctors, give me a break CHUPES! 8-O

    • Just the facts
      January 20, 2015

      @faceup
      You must be kidding me or you are just plain ignorant! Cuban doctors are the best trained doctors in the region, hands down. Even the United States have medical teams who train in Cuba, who understudy Cuban doctors and then implement the Cuban methods and strategies in the US and there are 200 U.S. medical students who receive scholarships to study medicine in Cuba. Cuba is well-respected in the field of medicine! This is information that the US does not want the world to know but it is a fact. If they were not good, the great United States would not be understudying them and then COPYING them!!!

  16. January 19, 2015

    May the healing power of Jesus reach this young boy in Martinique. I claim healing for this young boy. Take courage mom and dad. God bless.

  17. Lang Mama
    January 19, 2015

    DNOL please try to keep the article on for at least two weeks – keep it current for maximum impact. This handsome kid need us and we need him even more.

    • Peter Potter
      January 20, 2015

      Not only that, DNO should donate a banner free of charge with all account details for people to make their donations. I am certain DNO will agree to that.

  18. Lang Mama
    January 19, 2015

    Lets do it peeps.
    let us go lineup at the bank; those abroad please donate.

  19. Muriel Guiste
    January 19, 2015

    I had the pleasure of meeting this young boy at the hospital and my heart was moved by his personality ( very warm and intelligent) and I am really sorry to hear of the extent of his illness. I am appealing to everyone. Lets help this child!!!!

  20. TimTim
    January 19, 2015

    These appeals are just increasing! Poor Dominicans both the persons appealing and the potential givers.

    The appealing inability to afford from the lack of medical insurance; a savings; or maybe regular income and for Dominicans having to dig into shallow pockets to always rescue their fellow Dominicans. It says a lot about our economical advancement , health services and surprising quality of being our brother’s keepers.

    All the best to this little boy and his parents. Hope they raise enough to get the procedure done on time.

    • derp
      January 19, 2015

      are you seriously bringing politics into this seriously!

      • TRUTH & HONESTY
        January 19, 2015

        yes, politis must come in! it is what is. Politics will always come in; politics drives our economy, it drives our development, our health status, our education system; determines as a people what we are today, whether we are a healthy nation; an education nation a strong nation or a hard working nation. Stop being biased.

      • derp
        January 20, 2015

        @TRUTH & HONESTY basically based on what you wrote you are relating politics to a god hmm, smh, you are saying politics drives our development, ha, how does politcs determine who you are today, omg, you deterimine who you are, and you told me stop being biased ha, let me tell you what I think I hate all forms of government, I am anti-government, alot of things which are the social norm I am against….

  21. lightbulb
    January 19, 2015

    whats the link for the gofundme page

  22. lightbulb
    January 19, 2015

    where is the go fund me url

  23. UKNOWN
    January 19, 2015

    I just saw this donation made towards Philz .

    The children’s Heart fund is happy to let all the people who have been praying for this beautiful little boy know that they have donated in excess of $32,000.00 to the parents in order to cover the surgical and medical expenses and the air ambulance to Martinique . We wish him the best and leave the rest in the hands of the Almighty. Special thanks to Dr. Rhonda McIntyre -Francis for making this possible. We continue to accept donations to “The Chldrens Heart Fund” in order to help children in similar situations.

    • me
      January 19, 2015

      what is your point?

      • Think About It
        January 20, 2015

        @me. Your standard of education is limited…..Stop posting callous comments,please read carefully before you ask silly questions.

  24. Kamisha Charles
    January 19, 2015

    I pray that God helps the family through this time.May this handsome little boy recover and May God name be praised when he does.Satan your a liar and we rebuke all your evil plans over this child life in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

  25. truth
    January 19, 2015

    May God heal this young child and give the parent strength to care for him.
    Would need to know how much more is needed for the surgery.
    God bless the family

  26. faith
    January 19, 2015

    god is good, he is so good. have faith

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