According to his friends, Lieutenant Stitchie is in a living, waking nightmare. None of his friends have been able to visit him over the past two weeks as the gospel star’s wife has restricted access to the deejay during visiting hours at the private medical facility in the Corporate Area where he is currently healing.
“Stitchie’s extended family is in the dark as to the true nature of his condition,” one family member complained to one876entertainment.com
“No one from his inner circle has not been granted access. Not his niece, with whom he had been living for the past six months when he initially suffered a series of strokes. “
The Wear Yu Size deejay’s daughter, who is overseas, has been unable to visit him as well.
“Stitchie is in a waking nightmare, we hear that he is able to communicate with his eye movements, but he cannot speak. The only person who has access to him his present wife with whom he has been estranged for the past couple of years. He can’t hear the voice or see anyone who truly loves him and cares for him, no one from the gospel fraternity, no one from the dancehall fraternity, only someone with whom he no longer has any connection,” the source said.
It was reportedly earlier this month that Lieutenant Stitchie had reportedly suffered a severe brain haemorrhage and had been hospitalized in a coma.
The singer’s wife, Sophia Laing, has set up a GoFundMe campaign titled ‘Support Stitchie’s rehabilitate journey,’ which has already raised US$17,600 of the US$100,000 goal.
“We need Ministry Babsy Grange to step in and reason with the wife so that his friends and family can at least see him during one of the visiting periods at the hospital. Stitchie is a national figure, he has an OD, he should not be trapped in a situation like this, we, his family, need updates, his daughter, his niece, we need to know what is going on,” the source said.
Last week, a video which Stitchie’s wife, Mrs. Sophia Laing posted on Saturday gave a health update.
“She said he’s not speaking, but his eyes are opened and she told him, ‘Honey if you can hear me squeeze my hand’ and he squeezed her hand. So he’s aware of what’s going on. I was very encouraged by that,” another source said.
In addition to prayers from the fraternity, the organisers of the Sterling Gospel Music Awards have woven Stitchie into their event by asking the fraternity to make a donation to assist with his medical expenses.
Two weeks ago, a YouTube video, titled ‘Lieutenant Stitchie is dead at 58’ made the rounds and fans were expressing their condolences.
In the meantime, the dancehall fraternity has responded to Stitchie’s plight.
Rodney Price, popularly known as Bounty Killer, along with his manager Paul “Bankey” Giscombe, will ake a special monetary handover from The Bounty Foundation to Cleveland Laing, also known as Lieutenant Stitchie this week.
“This important occasion will be held on Thursday, October 3, 2024, at 3:00 PM, at PAJ Imports Limited, located at 78 Constant Spring Road, Kingston 8,” a press release said this week.