Woman pleads for new legs

Despite being born with one hand and no legs, Shanni James, 30, has never let that stop her from living a normal life.

Over the years, she has been able to manoeuvre her way around with the use of prosthetic legs.

But the mother of three needs help to replace the ones she has been using, as they are no longer fully functional.

The resident of Hertford district in Westmoreland says she has passed the three-year mark to replace her prosthetics.

"I have them five years now. I feel a lot of pain in my legs and in my hips, too, 'cause they are not aligned properly. The discomfort I am now facing makes me have to use a walking stick," James said. James has secured the services of a prosthetic technician, who told her a new pair costs $600,000.

James said that her current prosthetics are broken in different places and she has had to be going to a welding shop to get them fixed.

James, a past student of The Manning's School, said she has always lived a normal life, having the strong support of her mother.

"It wasn't rough growing up, I wasn't bullied. I really haven't adjusted my life, it just come natural to me. I have never had a need to alter anything to accommodate the disability, I just work with it," she said. James said her disability does not hinder her from doing simple tasks such as washing, cooking or cleaning.

Vibrant individual

"I can do things that are not even expected from me. When I go to parties, I'm a vibrant individual, trying to be as normal as I can despite my adversities," she said.

James is enrolled at the Petersfield HEART/NSTA Trust Academy, doing a level three certificate course in administrative assistance, and is also an employee of the Ministry of Health and Wellness as a medical records technician. But financial constraints brought on by COVID-19 have forced her into her current position.

"As it is, I am really the sole provider for the household and I have bills here and there to pay. So whenever month end come, I'm still not sure what amount I'll be able to pay this month," she said.

Those willing to assist Shanni James may do so at her GoFundMe Page http://gf.me/u/yn9rxz or Scotiabank Savanna-la-Mar branch, account #: 426143