Dubai: A Dubai resident and founder of the region’s sole children’s-only radio station is seeking financial help after his insurance provider refused to pay for treatment of his rare brain condition.
Making his dream come true in 2014, 43-year-old British expatriate Jeff Price set up the children’s radio station. The Briton also helped launch other radio channels during his 22 years in the UAE.
However, things took a turn for the wore in early 2016, when he was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a rare brain condition that leaks fluid into his skull.
Undergoing two surgeries in March and June with the help of his generous family and friends, Price’s family was unable to afford the third life-saving surgery. They are urgently hoping to raise over Dh300,000.
“The doctor has ordered for Jeff to have an operation immediately as he suspects there is a malfunction in one of his shunts caused by blockage of fluid. He is currently resting at home, waiting to have his third operation. The only thing hindering his progress is the lack of funds,” his wife, Cynthia Price, told Gulf News on Sunday.
His wife has set up an online fund-raising campaign on GoGetFunding.com, which has received six per cent of the funds needed overnight. “It’s a very tough time at the moment, but we are just overwhelmed, thankful, humbled with the support and kind words we have received from people all over the world,” said Cynthia.
With Jeff’s situation detreating rapidly, the father of Maddy, 13, and CJ, 3, needs to have a valve fitted in for the third time, to take the pressure off his brain.
His family described Jeff’s condition on his campaign page as “time-sensitive”, explaining that his sight, along with his short-time memory and speech areas of his brain, are being damaged and failing quickly.
While Jeff is no longer entitled to NHS treatment in the UK, his surgeries were not covered by his insurance in the UAE.
“Our main goal is for Jeff to have his normal way of life back, for him to get better, and to be able to play with his children again,” said Cynthia.
Having hosted numerous radio and TV shows Price was the voice of family entertainment for many of Dubai’s premium events such as Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens, Legends Rock Dubai Tennis, Dubai Duty Free Tennis and many more.
He was known to have supported various causes in his community from helping Filipino workers who were too ill to work to get back home, to raising funds for charities helping construction workers’ families and those coping with disabilities.
“It’s in his nature to help people,,, even if he can’t directly get involved, he’ll go out of his way to find a way to help someone in need,” said Cynthia.
To help, please visit https://gogetfunding.com/help-jeff-price/
