Painful situation - Point Hill woman struggling to stay afloat

Sixty-one-year-old Carolene Pryce is having a very challenging time surviving on a daily basis. Not only is she visually impaired, but Pryce has a heart condition, hypertension, diabetes, arthritis and is disabled as a result of a stroke.

The woman, who lives alone in a rented house in Pedro, Point Hill in St Catherine, says she does not have any family members around.

"Waking up every day not knowing if I will get a little food from somebody from the church is not comforting, I have no family member to turn to, it's very hard for me," she told THE WEEKEND STAR.

"I take a lot of pills and it's difficult to take them without food. I don't get breakfast during the week, except on Sundays, and this makes it more difficult for me taking these pills. If I could get someone just to offer me some grocery sometimes it be good," she added.

Coupled with her inability to find food, Pryce has the burden of coming up with $47,000 to carry out three tests that was ordered by doctors at the Spanish Town Hospital, where she was recently admitted.

"The doctor gave me until next Tuesday to take in the results, but I don't know where the first cent will come from for me to do these tests," she said.

The less fortunate woman said she is making a desperate plea for someone from the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education offices to visit her and make a determination as to her eligibility for receiving benefits the poor relief programme.