Teen desperate for life-changing surgery for scoliosis

For 44-year-old Albert Morgan, life has been one blow after another. Less than two months ago he buried his son and now, the grieving father continues his fight for a better quality of life for his teenage daughter who is suffering from a severe case of scoliosis.

Alarna, whose mother died from cancer when she was a little girl, was diagnosed with scoliosis at age nine. Her spine is now curved at 71 degrees and causing her excruciating pain.

"Mi son died by a car that hit him on the highway ... and the person that hit him did not stop. Up until this day it plague mi mind. And, watching Alarna in so much pain and mi can't do anything mek mi so stressed. Mi really wish mi could ease if it's even a little of her pain," a distressed Morgan told THE STAR.

Alarna's mother's dying wish was for her daughter to stay with her sister, and it was her aunt who alerted Morgan to the child's back pain.

"Alarna didn't show any signs of scoliosis back then. But one day, her aunt call me and seh Alarna a feel pain in her back. After X-rays, dem tell us is scoliosis," Morgan shared.

Doctors at Kingston Public Hospital have confirmed that surgery could change the teen's life. But the family must come up with $1,865,548 to purchase the screws, rods, and other equipment needed before the operation can be done.

Morgan, who works as a contract employee at Jamaica Broilers in the skills department, says the journey has been crushing.

"It affect mi mentally, emotionally, and financially," he said. "Mi haffi tek time off from work fi carry her to appointments, same with her aunt. She had to repeat grade 10 at St Catherine High because she miss so much classes. Even her growth ... this thing stop her growth," Morgan lamented.

Despite the relentless pain and tragedy, however, Alarna refuses to let it crush her spirit.

"My brother died and it was like nothing to me. So many bad things keep happening, mi just get used to it. But mi not giving up," Alarna said.

"Living with scoliosis I feel different from everybody else ... but mi nuh care about how it look. Mi know that even if mi have this condition, mi still a human. Mi can walk and do other things, so mi try not to let it hold me back too much."

Alarna shared that her grades were good up to grade nine, but after that the pain got unbearable and everything started to slip. "Sometimes mi just can't go [to school] because mi chest and back hurt too much."

While her reality is filled with discomfort, Alarna dares to dream big.

"Mi want to go into real estate or architecture. I think I'm good at making floor plans, roof plans, building house basically. But mi need to be healthy for that. The surgery would help" she stated.

While Alarna builds her dreams, her father continues to hope.

"My greatest wish is for her to be able to do the surgery and get over this so she can follow her dreams in life," Morgan said.

Persons wishing to assist Alarna Morgan, may donate to NCB savings account #475216830