Sean Devers has quietly become a popular name in the Caribbean as a cricket commentator over the past decade.
In recent months, however, his voice has been missed on the airwaves.
Devers, a regular commentator during regional and international matches in the Caribbean, has been diagnosed with a brain tumour and requires immediate surgery.
A former Guyana Under-19 off-spinner, he has been a ball-by-ball commentator for more than 15 years, often travelling throughout the Caribbean to cover the country’s matches in regional competitions.
Additionally, he has done international matches for the Caribbean Media Corporation, Line and Length Network and the British Broadcasting Corporation.
Devers visited a brain surgeon in Trinidad in February and again this month for tests and evaluation of the tumour which has grown by about 50 per cent since it was first diagnosed in January.
He is also being affected by seizures and mood swings caused by the tumour.
Inspite of the challenges, the 42-year-old remains positive.
“God is a great God and everything is in his hands. I am a bit scared but the support from everyone in and outside of Guyana has been overwhelming, and I thank everyone,” Devers said.
In February, surgery was not recommended but due to the rate of growth of the tumour, Dr Robert Ramcharran feels that surgery is the best option now and says the broadcaster, who also writes for Kaiteur News, has only a 10 per cent chance of his speech being affected by the operation in addition to weakness to his right side since the tumour is located on the left side of the brain.
According to Rambarran, the surgery should last about three hours after which Devers will be in the Intensive Care Unit for two days and in the hospital for five days before his three-month recovery period.
The cost of the surgery, together with travelling expenses, accommodation and post-surgery care is estimated at US$35 000 (BDS$70 000).
A fund-raising drive locally is being led by Andrew Mason, while a Facebook page (Sean Devers Brain Surgery Fund) has been created out of New York and donations can be deposited in Guyana Bank for Industry (GBTI) account number SICA865736.
The swift code for those donating from North America and the Caribbean is GUYIGYGE. (HG)
