Pauline Alcindor, 21, lost her parents when she was only six years old.  Her mother died suddenly and her father was shot to death.
As she grieved 15 years ago, another problem emerged.  Painful keloids sprouted from her skin.
Every injury, pimple or scratch led to another lump on her body.
Alcindor told The Nassau Guardian yesterday in an interview that doctors in The Bahamas have told her there is not much they can do to help her.
She sat in the boardroom of The Nassau Guardian yesterday with her sister, Betty Jules, and cousin, Natasha Jules, fighting back tears trying to explain what she has endured since the keloids began to develop.
One keloid has grown abnormally large around Alcindor's neck, like a necklace, and her sister and cousin want her to get treatment for it.  She has other smaller keloids over most of her body.
Her relatives said they have not heard back from doctors about Alcindor's condition since meeting with an oncologist in April.
"Last time we saw a doctor, the doctor was taking pictures of the keloids and said [they] would come together and see what they can do," Natasha said.
Alcindor, looking weak and uncomfortable, said in low barely audible tone that doctors told her they may not be able to help her.  And when asked if she still has hope that she can be helped, she replied, "I don't know."
Her sister said they desperately want to get help for Alcindor but only get promises of doctor's appointments that are continously cancelled or rescheduled.
Her cousin and sister said they take care of her wounds as best as they can, but the keloids rupture and give Alcindor immense pain.
Betty said she would like to take her sister to a specialist in the U.S., but she does not have the money to do so.  She also said she is having a difficult time getting Alcindor's travel documents in order.
"She doesn't have parents.  She lives with us and her daddy got shot," she said.
"There isn't anything we can do because we are trying to help her.  We want to see if we can carry her somewhere else and try to get this off of her.
"It's very painful for her and us because we don't have the money and we're seeking help and it's just very painful."
Betty said that anything members of the public can do to help her sister would be appreciated.

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