Clarendon ‘Supermom’ cares for needy child

T hough she has no children of her own, Keshea 'Kash' Grayson, who lives in the Farm community, in May Pen, Clarendon, has made it her duty to mother 11-year-old Ariana. She has been taking care of the child since she was seven, and says she has no intention to give her up.

"I knew her mother for a long time. Then she got pregnant and had a son, then she have Ariana after that. She became ill, mentally, and just start walk the road. Then she neva really have strong support to take care of the children. Her father was there, but him need help cause him a man," Grayson told THE CENTRAL STAR. "One day me ask the likkle boy about Ariana, and him seh him nuh know. Him seh him not even know weh she deh most times, and a like 11 o'clock a night she come home sometimes. When him seh dat me feel like something slap me ova. Because me know seh if har mada did inna har right mind, she wouldn't a live like dis," she said.

Grayson had oftentimes thought about taking in little Ariana, and finally got the go ahead when Ariana's grandmother brought her and her belongings to Grayson's house.

"Apparently she heard that Ariana was coming to my house and knew that I had a genuine interest in her care. She brought her willingly. She bring har and a bag with likkle clothes and everything did dutty. Ariana birth paper look like the likkle girl born ina the '51 storm. Looking at her things, you could see that there was no care," she said.

Since taking her in, Grayson says there has been a noticeable change in Ariana, not just in her appearance, but also her personality.

Develop a bond

"Girl use to fatigue har a school. Now, girl a fight har fi be har friend. Yuh can believe dat? So yuh see the change. Sometime me woulda see har a cry and when I ask what is wrong, she seh she miss har bredda. Dem develop a bond because a did dem alone. Sometimes me not even wah talk har story round har, because she come a far way."

Grayson said she fought to keep Ariana because she loves her unconditionally.

"I don't have any children. I had two miscarriages but I'm still hopeful, me still have faith. You know what pushed me to fight for Ariana even more? One day the grandmother come a me yard and seh she want Ariana fi come spend some time wid har. She create one big commotion. Me a seh she neva come look fi har before, so why now? Not one holiday, not one Christmas, not one birthday. Me did afi contain me self. Tears all start run out of my eye," Grayson told CENTRAL STAR.

Grayson has since reported the incident to the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CDA).

"Things a sort out through them now. Me have har legally fi four months now. The relationship between us now is inseparable. That's how close it is. If we should part, it would affect both of us, and not in a good way," she said.