Amputees unite to help teenage palsy victim

Jun 30, 2013 News

It is said that there is strength in numbers and that determination is the key to success. This was evident yesterday as several amputees from across the country placed themselves along the New Amsterdam Public Road and made appeals to the oncoming traffic for assistance.

Amputees: Krishan Roopnarine; Gavin Jeffers; Andre Richards, and Wayne Allison yesterday appealing to motorists in Berbice for assistance.

The men, who were all involved in accidents some time or the other, resulting in one of their legs being amputated, stated that they held similar activities by the Demerara Harbour Bridge.
Gavin Jeffers stated that he is from Essequibo and was involved in an accident in 2002 that paralyzed him. Despite this, he still finds ‘day jobs’ to provide for his family. One of the other men, Andre Richards’s leg was cut off a few years ago during an incident with a trawler.
He and the other amputees are hoping to form a group with assistance from the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, so that other amputees from across Guyana will be invited to join and take part in activities.
Some of the funds collected yesterday from drivers and motorists will be handed over to Jaikallie Etwaroo of Bath Settlement who was also soliciting funds for her 14-year- old daughter Sookdai, who is afflicted with cerebral palsy.
She is confined to a wheel chair and cannot attend school. The single parent added that it is very hard on her “to send her to school because I always have to get someone’s help to take her to school.”