Jamel King was father to six children (Image: Shania King)
The sister of a”caring and selfless” dad whose life was tragically cut short of Day after a long battle with sickle cell anemia has said she is “shocked and humbled” as a fundraiser set up in his name closed in on its target – just two days after being launched.
Jamel King, 38, died at the Princess Royal University Hospital in Orpington, south-east on Tuesday, where he was a patient, three days after being admitted.
As of 5pm today, the stood at £7,320 – just £1,680 short of its £9,000 target, said Jamel’s sister Shania, who set it up.
Jamel was admitted to the hospital on December 22 after his blood illness deteriorated, she explained. Despite their hopes that he would be discharged on Boxing Day, the family were told in an agonising Christmas morning phone call that things had taken a turn for the worse, and he died two hours later.
Shania explained: “Jamel was an incredible, funny, caring and selfless man who was a wonderful son, a fantastic brother and an incredible single father of six beautiful children (three girls and three boys, aged between 6-17).
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Jamel King battled bravely against his illness, said sister Shania (Image: Shania King)
“My brother was given the life expectancy of just one year when he was born, but he was a warrior – a fighter who despite all the odds, including emotional and physical abuse, would never give up on his children or his family.”
Because he had neither life insurance nor a funeral plan, his relatives are trying to raise the money to pay for his funeral and also help look after the children he has left behind.
Shania explained: “The children have faced great trauma before and now this pain is unimaginable. Christmas Day will never be the same.”
She said she was also keen to raise awareness about sickle cell, which is an inherited lifelong blood disorder which causes red blood cells to become hard and shaped like a sickle, blocking blood flow and causing a range of serious health problems.
When a carrier suffers from a crisis, they experience an extreme amount of pain anywhere in their body. Death from a sickle cell crisis can be sudden and unexpected, and is often associated with acute events.
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Jamel King with one of his daughters (Image: Shania King)
The condition arises from a genetic mutation affecting haemoglobin, the protein responsible for transporting oxygen in the blood.
Sickle cell anaemia is particularly common among individuals of African, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Indian ancestry.
Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and preventing complications, often involving pain relief, blood transfusions, and medications like hydroxyurea, which can reduce the frequency of pain crises.
An estimated 3,800 people in south London alone are estimated to suffer from the condition.
An inquest will now be held to establish cause of death.
Shania explained: “My brother was meant to come home with his blood levels stabilising. However, the oxygen in his blood drastically and unexpectedly lowered on Christmas Day.
Jamel King died without either life insurance or a funeral plan, explained his sister (Image: Shania King)
“His death is currently being investigated. Jamel asked to be taken to St Thomas’ Hospital where they specialised in the illness but was refused due to the distance.
“Despite the best efforts of the staff at the Princess Royal University Hospital, the doctors often called on my brother’s haematologist at St Thomas’ for advice but this was not enough to save him.
“Our whole lives have changed and we are please asking for any help at all. We also hope that our brother’s story also brings further awareness to the illness and reform takes place in hospitals across the UK.
“We’ve had lots of anonymous donations – I’m just so humbled and shocked that people care about it.”