By Skylar Christensen | Volunteer Junior Copywriter
Have you ever dropped everything and left the country in order to perform a life altering miracle? The majority of us can probably answer no, so let me ask instead; do you know what it would take in order for you to put a pause on your life to help someone who can’t do it alone? What would make you leave your family for days at a time and fly thousands of miles just to try to help? Would it take the prompting of a loved one? Would it be the pull of a sad story you couldn’t say no to? Or would it simply be the asking of a family friend looking for some help just like it was for Dr. Kirk Campbell.
Dr. Campbell temporarily put his life on hold and put his heart into the planning of the first ever Duncan Tree Foundation scoliosis mission when a family friend Nickeysha Haughton asked for his help.
Dr. Campbell is a native of Montego Bay, Jamaica; a proud graduate of Cornwall College High School who completed college courses at UWI.
He migrated to the United States with a goal of being a medical doctor and completed his Undergraduate degree at the University of Connecticut. He later completed several fellowships including his fellowship at Yale New Haven and The University of Miami. He has had a successful medical career after migrating to the States. He currently serves as a Nephrologist and Professor at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Although he is no longer lives in on the island of Jamaica, it was through those roots and connections that a young Nickeysha reached out asking for his help with her medical condition.
Nickeysha had severe scoliosis which caused her pain during her daily activity. This made it difficult for her to function like the other fifteen year olds.
As difficult as it was for her to live through the pain, her family did not have the means to pay for the costly spine surgery, as many families in Jamaica and around the world do not. Nickeysha reached out to Dr. Campbell in hopes he could assist her in some manner, and she was not let down. Through a series of connections through his Cornwall College network, Dr. Campbell was led to Jennifer Chalmers who provided medical support to young people through her organization. Jennifer eventually reached out to Ouida Duncan at Duncan Tree Foundation.
Campbell soon joined the Board of Advisors at the Duncan Tree Foundation and quickly became a driving force of DTF’s strategy, with Ms. Duncan’s support to shift the organization’s focus from prostate cancer awareness and towards scoliosis awareness, medical mission trips and training of local hospital staff.
Upon further research, DTF discovered a surgical waiting list exceeding 300 young people at Kingston Public Hospital. Globally there are 210 million people suffering from Scoliosis and approximately 21 million people need surgery. In Jamaica alone there are approximately 89,000 people who have scoliosis, with approximately ten percent of those needing surgery.
Dr. Campbell’s initial motivation was clear: to help Nickeysha specifically get the help she needed, however, once he participated on the first two trips, he became motivated to help all kids in those difficult situations. In a recent interview, Dr. Campbell stated, “after the surgeries, the kids get such a boost in their self esteem. It’s cool, we get to see them on a path to being productive members of society.” Dr. Campbell mentioned his favorite parts of the trip don’t only include helping the patients, but also helping the medical professionals over there learn more skills they can practice to continue helping the patients after the DTF volunteer team returns home.
Although it’s been several years since Dr. Campbell participated in a surgical mission trip, he continues to support the goal of the organization and aids in the success of children like Nickeysha through spreading the word, conducting outreach activities, donating, fund-raising and attending events.
Opportunities to use your skills to help don’t always fall into one’s lap as they did with Dr. Campbell, but the question is, what will you do if one falls into yours? If you’re ready to help us perform miracles more we’re looking for you.
To donate today to help kids like Nickeysha, go to: https://www.duncantreefoundation.org/donate-now/
$30 Pays for two meals for 1 surgical volunteer
$68 Assists with airport transfers for volunteers
$95 Helps cover registration fee for credentialing medical volunteer
$125 Funds postoperative and rehabilitating costs
$250 Local accommodations for 2 volunteers
Every dollar helps!
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