Lt Stitchie hospitalised with ‘low blood count’

Veteran deejay Lieutenant Stitchie is receiving blood at hospital after his blood count fell, his wife Sophia Laing confirmed to Observer Online on Sunday. She is seeking to reassure supporters concerned by reports of the gospel artiste’s admission. “Stitchie's blood count went down, and that is why he is at that medical facility, KPH, getting blood,” Laing said. “We have been asking close friends, family and members of the church family to donate blood. We are waiting on him to get the balance of the blood tomorrow, and once the doctors are satisfied, he will be released.” Lt Stitchie suffered a debilitating stroke in the first week of September 2024, and since then has been receiving care at an undisclosed private medical facility. In regards to the Fast and Pray deejay’s latest setback, Mrs Laing cautioned that the length of his stay would depend on his treatment. READ: Lt Stitchie in hospital, family appeals for help “How long he will be hospitalised depends on the process and the number of units he may need, everything is now in the hands of the medical team,” she said. According to Mrs Laing, it has been two years, one month and 14 days since he suffered the debilitating stroke. He is still unable to speak and has limited mobility. “He is not able to move around much, but the greatest thing is that he is still with us,” she said. “So many persons who took ill after my husband are not with us. But to God be the glory, he is still in the land of the living.” Mrs Laing said Lt. Stitchie’s GoFundMe page remains active and has helped ease the cost of his prolonged care, although donations are intermittent. “It is still a bit of a struggle, but every now and then, people will donate so to God be the glory,” she said. A former athlete and schoolteacher, Lieutenant Stitchie (real name Cleve Laing) cut his musical teeth on the competitive sound system circuit in Spanish Town, his hometown, during the early 1980s alongside other aspiring artistes such as Papa San, Wickerman, and Major Worries. In 1986, he got his mainstream breakthrough with the hilarious Wear Yuh Size, followed by Natty Dread, another rib-tickling hit. He signed to Atlantic Records in 1988 and released three albums for that label, including the well-received Wild Jamaican Romances. In 1997, Lt Stitchie became a born-again Christian and has since recorded a number of inspirational albums and songs.