ST. THOMAS, JAMAICA (SAD, SHOCKING & UNEXPECTED): 'She gave up' : Shock grips St Thomas communities as mother of 14-yr-old tumour child dies...following the unexpected death of Andrea Williams — the mother of 14-year-old Leslie-Ann Goulbourne who was diagnosed with brain tumour.

BY DONNA HUSSEY-WHYTE Observer staff reporter husseyd@jamaicaobserver.com  Thursday, March 19, 2015 

SHOCK and disbelief rocked the communities of Port Morant and Airy Castle in St Thomas Sunday, following the unexpected death of Andrea Williams — the mother of 14-year-old Leslie-Ann Goulbourne who was diagnosed with brain tumour.

Fourteen-year-old Leslie-Ann Goulbourne consoles her mother,
Andrea Williams, in mid-February during an interview with the
 Jamaica Observer. ((PHOTO: GARFIELD ROBINSON)

Williams, who sought financial help for radiation treatment for her daughter through a Sunday Observer story published on February 15, died at the Princess Margaret Hospital where she was admitted for a week and three days from what her mother said was a collapsed lung resulting from stress.

Williams had spent close to $5 million for treatment and daily care of her daughter, who had to undergo four brain surgeries and radiation treatment for the tumour in her head before it was discovered that the non-malignant tumour — known as germinoma — had spread to the child's spine.

"She gave up," Syble Williams, the deceased woman's mother told the Observer at their Airy Castle home on Monday. "The doctor said she was stressed from head to toe and that she was drained out to nothing because she was fretting on the little girl. She was there for her from the beginning to the last breath."

Andrea Williams cries as she relates her daughter’s situation
 in mid- February. Williams died on Sunday after her lungs collapsed
 as a result of severe stress. (PHOTO: GARFIELD ROBINSON)

"The relationship that they have is very unique," the elder Williams added. "She had a little cough and shortness of breath and because she had to go up and down with Leslie-Ann, she didn't have the time to eat much or take care of herself. She visited the doctor twice three weeks ago and was nebulised, but they did not understand why she was still breathing short."

A follow up X-ray revealed that the lungs of the 40-year-old mother of four were collapsing. As a result, she was sent off to the hospital where she was immediately admitted.

Days before her admission to hospital two Thursdays ago, Andrea told the Observer that things had taken a toll on her physically and that she was not feeling well, while also explaining that her next move was a visit to the hospital for a check-up.

During her time in the hospital, her sick daughter -- who was advanced into her radiation treatment -- was prevented from visiting her for her own safety. However, on Sunday, after numerous requests from the ailing mom, the staff agreed for the child to visit. more