Parang singer Jaggasar fights for love of her life

The Christmas season is the time when parang queen Alicia Jaggasar usually shines. But 2020 has been tough.

The lead vocalist with Los Alumnos de San Juan was among the many artistes trying to find their way through the new rules forced on the global entertainment industry by the covid19 pandemic.

She was certainly not prepared for another shocker that came a few weeks ago when a mass was found on her husband Wayne Jagdeo's right lung.

"I thought covid was the worst thing that could have happened this year," she told Newsday. "But then the lung cancer came and it was all downhill."

The cancer has since spread to his left lung and because of the stage it has reached, he is now in palliative care at home in Couva. Radiation and chemotherapy are no longer treatment options.

But Jaggasar was told there is an immunotherapy drug that may be able to help ease his suffering if he qualifies for it.

Getting it isn't a simple process, though.

"The biopsy was done on Christmas Eve and it was 100 per cent lung cancer. We got the preliminary pathology report today (December 28) and we still have to wait for the final pathology report to determine the type of lung cancer he has so we can plan a course of action.

"That report will take two to three weeks, but I am considering doing it privately to get it faster because asking someone with lung cancer to wait three weeks to know how to proceed is not right. The situation is fragile. Three weeks is too long.

"I’m advocating for if to be done faster because knowledge and information are important. Knowing exactly what is happening you get peace of mind. It's either we’re preparing for this or that. I would know and he would know. Science is his speciality so he understands what’s going on with his body," she said, trying to hold back the tears.

According to cancercenter.com there are two main types of lung cancer, small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). SCLC often quickly grows and spread to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes. NSCLC usually grows at a slower rate, develops slowly and causes few or no symptoms until it has advanced.

Over the years, 69-year-old Jagdeo, a retired physics, chemistry and maths teacher and an accomplished pannist, never suspected anything was wrong with him. It was not until he was tested for covid19 two months ago that the tumour was discovered.

"You know how men have a way that they don’t take on their signs and symptoms?" said Jaggasar. "Well, it was not until he really started feeling sick – his blood pressure went down, he had a chronic cough and a fever – that he went to the hospital.

"They did a covid test and he tested positive. He went through quarantine, retested and was released. It was during that process that they found the mass. But because of the covid, the lung cancer unit was not able to do anything for him then."

Jaggasar made an emotional appeal on her Facebook page for contributions to Parang is Life (Parang es La Vida) a tribute and fundraiser to help with her husband's medical expenses.

"Wayne Jagdeo has not been enjoying the best of health and we, together with friends, family and fellow parranderos pay tribute through music to this phenomenal leader/teacher/parrandero/and parang aficionado. Los Alumnos de San Juan and so many citizens have been touched by Wayne's teaching and his devotion to seeking excellence. We say thank you to Wayne Jagdeo we love you and wish you a speedy recovery...You can donate via https://fundmetnt.com/.../parang-is-life-tribute-fundraiser or directly to the RBL account."

At that time, she said, she was a rollercoaster of emotions and felt she needed to do something, anything, to help.

"The doctors were sticking about what type of treatment he would need and that was why I reached out. All the doctors said things were not looking good. The biopsy was scheduled, cancelled and rescheduled and I was frustrated."

Assistance eventually came from the Minister of Health and the North Central Regional Health Authority, and after the diagnosis, she was given the option of having her husband cared for at the Caura hospital or at home.

"I was so adamant that they not put him in a facility. He needs his family, love and care. I can stay home and take care of him. I spent Christmas taking care of him."Her husband has been her priority.

"The house is in a hot mess, I didn't get to go to the grocery, but the day was well spent giving thanks for his life to see another Christmas. I think the New Year will be pretty much the same, in thanksgiving. I made that commitment of 24-hour care and I will have it no other way."

Jaggasar, a full-time musician, said it may be tough physically and emotionally, but taking care of her husband of over 25 years is a pleasure.

"I want to see him every day. Who will take care of him as well as I can in a hospital? I want to give him the best care, make sure he has his nutrition, meds, is comfortable."

Jagdeo needs a lot of help.

"He can’t move around. Two or three steps is like a marathon for a lung cancer patient. He’s frail because he’s lost a lot of weight. He weighs about seventy-something pounds now. I'm really hoping they could speed up the report because I’m praying for some more time with him.

"I’m coping through God. That’s where my strength has to come from. I can’t show him that I'm weak, and I have to make sure that I try to take care of myself too. I’m sleep-deprived, but I anticipate that things will get better as I settle him."

She said it is also difficult for their two children, 18 and 20, both of whom were in the middle of exams when the diagnosis came.

"I was grateful that we were doing virtual performances, an hour here and there. I didn’t want to put them through that emotional strain of me having to go to parang and having to leave them to take care of him. It’s not easy to watch someone you love being sucked away by something you can’t see."

And, as expected, the situation, added to the pandemic, has taken its financial toll.

"You know what happened with the creative industry with covid. As with most parang groups, everything went from 100 per cent to 0.1 per cent. But one of the things Los Alumnos de San Juan did when we met was give thanks that some companies hired us."

So she's been managing the medical bills with what she has, and support from friends and family.

"People have been assisting, and we held a fundraiser last week."

She said to take Jagdeo from their Couva home to the hospital and back in an ambulance costs $1,800 each time.

"Transporting him in a car with lung cancer is a no-no. I did it a few times and he was in real pain. If this has to continue (ambulance transport) for a long period of time, it will become a financial strain."

After this experience, Jagassar said, she will never be the same person.

"You just look at life in a whole different way. Today I can be talking to you and tomorrow I can call and someone may tell me, 'She is in the hospital.' Life to me now is like: this moment, it is all that matters. Don’t put off things that you can do today, because tomorrow is not a promise." But she is keeping the faith that 2021 will be a lot better.

Anyone willing to contribute can do so via https://fundmetnt.com/.../parang-is-life-tribute-fundraiser, directly to the RBL account number 340000991601 or call 785-0248.