BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor
It took nine years for doctors to determine the cause of the illness plaguing Ms. Rhonda Williams. During that time, she suffered from liver, kidney, and lung failures, among other illnesses and allergies.
Ms. Williams said there were several misdiagnoses until January 4, 2013, when she was diagnosed with having a rare disease known as G6PD Deficiency (Glucose-6-Phoisphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency). She calls it “God’s Promise of Delivery Deficiency.”
On Thursday, May 2nd, she is hosting a fundraiser at Genghis Grill, 910 E. Providence Road, in Brandon.
Ms. Williams is attempting to raise money for a trip to Queens, New York. Once there, she will meet with Dr. Dorothy Ogunda at the AKI Health Center.
“This illness is so rare that some doctors here had never heard of it, and the few who had did not know how to treat it. It primarily affects people living in Asia, Africa and the Mediterranean area of the world. The few people who have been diagnosed in the United States have been African American baby boys.
“Doctors here are doing the best they can, but they are limited. Dr. Ogunda is an African doctor who is familiar with the disease because she has it also.”
A Progress Village native, Ms. Williams graduated from Brandon High School in 1985. She continued her education at the University of South Florida, where she graduated with a degree in Engineering. However, she was later hit by a drunk driver and was left permanently disabled.
A returning member of St. James AME Church of Progress Village, Ms. Williams is the daughter of the late Billie and Olivia Williams and the niece of the late Coach ‘Big Jim’ Williams. She is single and does not have any children.
She believes her illness developed because of a chemical spill in 2004 at the gypsum plant she lives near in Progress Village. Through research, Ms. Williams has learned that about 4 million people carry the trait, but it seldom develops into the disease.
Ms. Williams receives SSI and food stamps. However, she spends about $600 per month on food. She can’t consume any foods containing soy or use any products containing mint, menthol, quinine, sulfites, ascorbic acid, artificial coloring … the list goes on. She cannot have anesthesia so she has undergone three operations without it.
“To look at me, I look like the picture of health. But, I have to get up at 4:30 a.m., in order to be ready for an 11 a.m. doctor’s appointment.
“G6PD Deficiency causes abnormalities of the chromosomes. There is no cure for it, but it is manageable with the right treatment.”
Anyone wishing to help Ms. Williams can reach her at (813) 677-4261; or at HYPERLINK “mailto:RLW523@aol.com” RLW523@aol.com.
