Senior fights to raise her grandsons

After losing her daughter Sian Phillips in 2014, Lerline Earle has devoted her life to caring for the three boys she left behind.

The 69-year-old says she wishes to "give me bwoy dem the best life" but she has been struggling to do that. The boys, ages, 11, seven and six, lost their mom to complications she had during another pregnancy. Their grandma has been their sole provider.

"Life rough me nah tell no lie because a the three a dem me have to be taking care of and me not working. Me would want some food, clothes and or any little thing fi just help balance them out," she told THE STAR.

When Phillips was alive, both she and Earle kept their household afloat with the money from their respective domestic jobs. Earle, however, hasn't been able to work for the last five years.

"Me sick with poor circulation and it cause me to not be able to move around properly. Sometime it will give me a ease but me cyah tell when last (she has worked). Because a that me just have to stay home," she said. Earle is forced to depend on funds she receives from the PATH programme bi-monthly and a little assistance from friends and family.

"When me collect all of it (PATH money) is like J$11,000 for me and the kids. But that can't really help me because the boys eat nuff and me have to feed dem three times a day," she said. "Sometimes other people who know my situation will leave a little bag with some food and my children will give me something when them have it."

"I can't even depend on the boys' father because him just come out of the hospital and he is not working," she added.

Other than basic commodities that the boys need, Earle said she also wishes to expand their one-bedroom dwelling in Swain Spring, Red Hills, St Andrew.

"Me would a want to put on a next room for them so they can be more comfortable because dem a get big now and soon need more space," she said. "I will be there with them right here because God nah take me until them pass the worse. They are my babies and me love them bad."

Having to deal with her daughter's passing has also been a burden for Earle.

"Sometimes me sit down and cry when me remember me daughter because me still don't get over the death. But I try not to make the boys see me crying, me have to stay strong fi dem," she explained to THE STAR.

Her wish is for her boys Quwayne, Damion and Sean Creary to become a pastor, lawyer and a soldier, respectively.

"Me wish me could stay with them forever because me nuh want when me gone nobody ill treat dem," she laughed. Quwayne said he is anxious to get older so he can take care of his grandmother. "I love my grandma because she take care of us and when I get old I will buy her a lot of things," he said.

Those who wish to assist Earle and her boys may contact Keisha Hayle at (876) 313-4539 or donate to account number: 324149252 in the name Keisha Hayle at the National Commercial Bank's Half-Way Tree Branch.