Shortly after losing his home in a fire in 2001, Craig Vacciana learnt that he had a hole in his heart.

The 31-year-old resident of Old Harbour Bay, St Catherine, is scheduled to do open heart surgery in Alabama next month, but needs an additional $30,000 to cover his expenses.

Since his diagnosis, Vacciana has been battling several uncomfortable and potentially deadly conditions. He told THE STAR, "I suffer from shortness of breath an' bad feeling and di doctor dem seh enough oxygen not going to the blood for di heart to pump it to di whole body, so it really slow mi up."

He also added, "Di bad feeling don't leave mi out and sometime di heart race, sometime it so bad dat mi jus haffi lie down. More time it weaken mi hand and foot."

He revealed that the cost for the operation was already covered by the US government and said he already had a portion of the airfare. He told THE STAR that the last time he received treatment in Alabama for complications involving his lungs, he spent over 20 days there. He therefore wants to ensure that he has enough money to take care of himself while he is away.

Vacciana issued this plea: "I'm asking kindly for some help to get the balance of money so I could get to go away next month."

Anyone wishing to help him, may contact him at 815-0456.