Husband and wife fight for their lives - Cancer robbing family of their joy

For most of his life, 58-year-old Martin Nelson has been a man of rhythm and steel, a gifted guitarist and professional welder. He is known in his Corporate Area community not only for his skills but for his deep commitment to family and neighbours alike. But even more importantly he has been a hard-working and good father for his seven children, ensuring "all of them get a slice of the pie".

Sadly all that came to a painful pause in early 2024, when Nelson was diagnosed with throat cancer.

"It started with him losing his voice," recalls his wife of one year, Hilary Williams Nelson, who has known him for 18 years.

"After that he began having trouble sleeping and breathing. In January, it got worse, he could barely lie flat."

By February 28, Nelson had been admitted to hospital where doctors performed a tracheotomy and confirmed a heartbreaking diagnosis "hypothyroid carcinoma."

Once the vibrant cornerstone of his home and the father figure to his seven children, including a 13-year-old son he shares with Hilary, Martin's life has drastically changed.

"He's not able to work any more, he can't weld or play music because just breathing is hard." Communicating is also a challenge. He now writes or gestures, with rare moments of whispering, leaving his once-playful relationship with his son painfully altered.

"They were like best friends," Williams Nelson shares, in a saddened tone. "My son plays the keyboard because Nelson taught him. They would jam together, music bonded them. But now, the joy is gone from that."

She says their son is struggling emotionally, even trying to stay away from home to cope.

"He wants to go out of the yard, just go to the ball field or anywhere. I had to get his school counsellor involved."

The emotional toll on the family is immense. But it's not the only crisis they face. Williams Nelson herself is also fighting lung cancer, a battle she has been waging for a decade. In February, her own scans revealed that the nodules in her lungs had increased. She now requires costly medication that's neither available in government pharmacies nor widely stocked in the country.

With both parents seriously ill, the family is seriously stressed.

"It's overwhelming," Williams Nelson admits. "Martin's treatment alone could cost over $6 million. Radiation, chemotherapy, surgery and that is if we can even access the machines or medication on time. Most things we have to go private for because the public facilities don't have them or the machines don't work," Williams Nelson said.

Their community has rallied in small ways, with groceries, emotional support, and help around the house. But Nelson, once the provider, now lies at home in silence, unable to do the things he loves, while Williams Nelson battles her own health crisis and takes care of the family.

Still, through the struggle, Williams Nelson's heart is set on more than just help for herself and husband.

"If I could ask for anything, it would be that the government makes cancer treatment and medication more affordable and more available not just for government workers but for everyone. Cancer is troubling too many people. Life is precious. If we can keep our people healthy then we can do more and we can keep our country strong."

"With the proper treatment and so on, and if we can get the necessary medication which I understand is overseas, we should be able to manage his condition."

As Martin remains quietly at home, unable to even call his son by name, time is running out. The family is praying for help to arrive before silence takes over completely.

For more information or to offer support, Hilary Williams Nelson can be contacted via WhatsApp at (876) 823-4547.