For years, THE STAR has lived up to its slogan as the 'People Paper', helping many persons to literally get a second chance at life. And, although life continues to be hard, those persons are indeed grateful for the second chance.
"A lady sent me a barrel of food stuff after the story came out and from time to time a man name Mr. Blake and his wife comes to look for me but they have work so it's just us alone," said Olga Campbell.
Olga Campbell's story first appeared in THE STAR last year. At the time the woman and her husband were unable to help themselves. Olga was confined to a wheelchair and her husband could not work as he had a leg amputated after it became gangrenous.
Eighteen months later, while physically her situation has not changed, she is grateful that someone lent a helping hand. Still, she is hoping someone will help yet again.
"We still here with no food or anybody to help us so we are in need of more help from the public," she said.
Another person helped by THE STAR, Dawn Whitter is still grateful. She even sent a thank you note to THE STAR last year after being helped by Lady Saw and other members of the public who donated more than $50,000 for her surgery. Whitter was diagnosed with thyroidectomy in late 2003. She came to THE STAR for help early last year.
To date, she has successfully undergone surgery and has recovered.
"I'm grateful for the help and I'm still living and I thank God for that. But, I have the hospital bill before me and I have to be working to clear it but I am happy."
However, not all STAR help stories have ended this way. There are also some sad ones. One sad story is that of Shannell Cain who died earlier this year. Shannell was diagnosed with craniosynostosis at birth. Craniosynostosis is a disease affecting the skull where the sutures fail to open.
Although she received help for the operation, she died from unrelated complications.
One happy story is that of Renaldo Slue who was diagnosed with a hole in his heart in 2000. A donation by Cable and Wireless and members of the public resulted in his recovery as he was able to do surgery after a team of doctors visited the island.
Renaldo now lives with his mother Herfa in Cayman.
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