GOOD NEWS
Boy blinded by belt buckle back home after successful surgery overseas
BY COREY ROBINSON Sunday Observer staff reporter robinsonc@jamaicaobserver
Sunday, May 08, 2011
THE 11-year-old New Providence Primary School student who was blinded by a buckle at the end of a belt allegedly being swung by a teacher — returned home yesterday after successful eye surgery in Miami, Florida.
Tajoery Small and his mother, Carlene Clarke, arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport shortly before 2:00 pm.
The two have been in Miami since April 3, when they left the island for the delicate surgery at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.
His left eye partially closed to keep out the glare of the sun — Tajoery said he was elated to return home to his friends.
“I am happy to be home. The first thing I am going to do is fly my (toy) plane,” said the soft-spoken youngster.
According to him, he is not feeling any pain in the eye, and his vision is getting better. However, his surgeons have reportedly cautioned that he will never regain full sight in that eye.
He will also have to have the artificial lens replaced when he outgrows it in the next three years.
The excitement which accompanied their return was, nonetheless, vividly etched on Clarke’s face. The young mother, who has been fighting to save her son’s sight since the incident in December 2009, said life finally feels like it is returning to normal.
“I feel good, feeling really great that he can see from the eye again. It (surgery) could have been done before, but you know that you have to fight,” she said. “It wasn’t an easy road, but thank God that I won the battle,” she continued.
Clarke said it was her strong faith in God that carried her through the “frightening” surgery.
“When I saw like an hour, two hours pass and he was not out (of surgery), I started to wonder if something was wrong. But then I decided not to worry and that I was just going to leave everything in God’s hands,” she said.
“He spent three hours in surgery and then another 48 minutes in recovery. After that, when I saw that he was alright, I was filled with joy,” she with a grateful smile.
There is also good news for the youngster who has missed several days of school, Clarke said, “Representatives from the Ministry (of Education) said they will get him extra tutorials to see where he missed out and how he can catch up.”
Clarke said she was grateful for everyone who played a part in getting the assistance she needed for her son.
Tajoery was allegedly struck in the left eye by the buckle of the belt the teacher was using to discipline another student who had been misbehaving.
The resultant damage required extensive surgery at the Bustamante Hospital for Children in St Andrew, but that bid to save his eyesight failed and Tajoery was left partially blind, and in constant pain.
Clarke said she spent more than $300,000 for medication as well as transportation for his visits to clinical and counselling sessions over the past two years.
Her plight was highlighted by the Sunday Observer in January, sparking both local and international condemnation of the incident, as well as support for the boy.
Doctors in Miami repaired Tajoery’s cornea and lens, Clarke said, surgery two local doctors declined to perform because of the high level of risk involved.
He will have to return to Miami in three months for further check-ups, and to be fitted with special eyeglasses.
Money for the surgery which was estimated at some US$20,000 (J$1.7 million), was approved and granted by the Government.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has since ruled that the teacher, Patricia Perry, be charged. The case is ongoing.
GOODMORNING
Of David.
1 Contend, LORD, with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me.
2 Take up shield and armor;
arise and come to my aid.
3 Brandish spear and javelin[a]
against those who pursue me.
Say to me,
“I am your salvation.”
4 May those who seek my life
be disgraced and put to shame;
may those who plot my ruin
be turned back in dismay.
5 May they be like chaff before the wind,
with the angel of the LORD driving them away;
6 may their path be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.
7 Since they hid their net for me without cause
and without cause dug a pit for me,
8 may ruin overtake them by surprise—
may the net they hid entangle them,
may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.
9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD
and delight in his salvation.
10 My whole being will exclaim,
“Who is like you, LORD?
You rescue the poor from those too strong for them,
the poor and needy from those who rob them.”
11 Ruthless witnesses come forward;
they question me on things I know nothing about.
12 They repay me evil for good
and leave me like one bereaved.
13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth
and humbled myself with fasting.
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
14 I went about mourning
as though for my friend or brother.
I bowed my head in grief
as though weeping for my mother.
15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;
assailants gathered against me without my knowledge.
They slandered me without ceasing.
16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;[b]
they gnashed their teeth at me.
17 How long, Lord, will you look on?
Rescue me from their ravages,
my precious life from these lions.
18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly;
among the throngs I will praise you.
19 Do not let those gloat over me
who are my enemies without cause;
do not let those who hate me without reason
maliciously wink the eye.
20 They do not speak peaceably,
but devise false accusations
against those who live quietly in the land.
21 They sneer at me and say, “Aha! Aha!
With our own eyes we have seen it.”
22 LORD, you have seen this; do not be silent.
Do not be far from me, Lord.
23 Awake, and rise to my defense!
Contend for me, my God and Lord.
24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, LORD my God;
do not let them gloat over me.
25 Do not let them think, “Aha, just what we wanted!”
or say, “We have swallowed him up.”
26 May all who gloat over my distress
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me
be clothed with shame and disgrace.
27 May those who delight in my vindication
shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say, “The LORD be exalted,
who delights in the well-being of his servant.”
28 My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,
your praises all day long.
OSHIN SHERLOCK
Senora Dankey bite / bresfootsalute is in farrin in di flesh…..socks ina di slippas and di bang stretch whey clear dung a sherlock like woa..Bwaay mi nuh know if a pull Nage pull two teetz mek di jaw square dung suh…but di mout shape off and di donkey bite nah come ..IT STUBBANT BADDDD! Nage neatly go put on di black gergle and pose off ina di shawl wid di socks ina di strap up slippas like a she name OSHIN..Gwaan yah Nage ..jus mek sure yuh bring back two suit a clothes come gi yuh sis cause she in need bodddd…
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