Beenie Man’s Son Moses Jr. Hospitalized With Sickle Cell Complications
Beenie Man has been overcome with sadness after his 20 year old son Moses Jr, who is afflicted with sickle cell disease, was hospitalized due to complications associated with the illness.
The Grammy Award-winning Dancehall artiste made the revelation on his Instagram page on Friday, where he encouraged his fans to learn as much as they can about the disease, which is the most common genetic disorder in Jamaica.
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“If I should really sum up 2020 mi really wouldn’t have the words, Iyah… Right now my son is in the hospital @1876prince. He suffers from the sickle cell disease. As a black man who suffers from the disease as well, I waan encourage the I dem fi gain some knowledge on it,” the Who am I singer said.
“Send some positive vibes @1876prince. As a father mi wish ah me did deh deh so instead of him. #JahBless,” he added.
Bounty Killer, TeeJay and BBC’s Seani B were among the celebrities who responded with icons and words of encouragement.
Moses Jr. who has described Beenie Man as his role model, is also an upcoming artiste. Just under a week ago he released the track Punchline, which featured himself and his father.
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In 2018 Beenie, through his Beenie Man Foundation, donated $300,000 to the Sickle Cell Unit at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) in St Andrew, to aid with a summer camp for teenagers living with the sickle cell disease as well as to raise awareness about the ailment.
At the time, he told The Star newspaper that sickle cell initiatives were important to him as they hit close to home, as Moses Jr. was not only was afflicted with the disease, but has to be hospitalized at least three times per year to access treatment.
“The University Hospital is like his second home, so you can see why I chose to work with this team, they are basically family. (They are) A family that serves my family, so I have to serve them however I can,” Beenie had said.
Citing the disorder as a dangerous thing that can kill, Beenie Man had said the disease should not be taken lightly.
“If rain all fall di whole a yuh body swell up. The pain that it give anno pain whey yuh can go get Cataflam fi it. More time yuh have to go hospital to get an injection fi it,” he had told the tabloid, adding that: “nuff time, Moses just freeze up ina him bed when the pain reach him. Him a 19 now so me just a hope him grow it out and get stronger”.
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He had even said that although he tries not to allow the disease to affect his career, he has been struck by pain many times whilst onstage.
Some 19,000 Jamaicans are afflicted with the incurable sickle cell disorder, according to the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
The Ministry offers free screening to all pregnant mothers and newborn babies at all public health facilities, which enables medical practitioners to determine whether or not the child has the sickle cell disease or if the child has the sickle cell trait.
If a child has sickle cell, he/she is given four doses of pneumococcal vaccine and a further booster dose of Haemophilius influenza type B, to protect them from pneumonia, meningitis which is and infection around the brain and septicaemia which is infection of the blood.
According to the Ministry, while sickle cell remains incurable, “science and technology has come a far way in developing and improving treatment options and care” and so people afflicted with with sickle cell disease or the trait of the disease, if detected early, can live longer, healthier lives”.