HELP AND AGONY - Clarendon family’s cry for help answered by some, mocked by others

A Clarendon family, whose pitiful living circumstances were highlighted by this newspaper, has been getting help but equally they are being chastised.

Suzette Wilson, her spouse Owen Brown, as well as their five daughters -- aged 19, 16, 13, eight and one -- in a run-down house at Curatoe Hill in the parish.

They stated their desire to raise chickens, pigs and goats to help improve their lives, and appealed for help to start an agricultural venture.

Since the publication of their story on October 29, a handful of kind-hearted persons have answered their call for help. Wilson said that she got 30 chickens and eight bags of feed as well as tablet computers from Ian Atkinson, a member of the Jamaica Fire Brigade. They have also benefited from gifts of clothes, food and other items.

"I have not reached to where I want to but I am grateful for those who reached out and helped me. All of those who talk bad things about me, God bless you and I thank unno very much. All who talk good tings about me and help me, God bless you more and more and strengthen unno," Wilson stated.

In preparation for the possible donation of piglets, Wilson and Brown have constructed a pig pen. They are hoping that their dreams of pig farming can become a reality.

"Mi mek mi pig pen, mi nuh get nuh pig yet, but by di grace of God, mi know mi a guh get it," Wilson said.

Meanwhile, the struggling mother said that highlighting her plight has come at a tremendous cost as there have been persons who were less than understanding, and have been caustic in some of their remarks. She believes that is one of the reasons many Jamaicans suffer in silence, as they are afraid to put themselves out there to ask for help. She did and her family, particularly the children, are paying the price for it.

"They say a lot about it, dem call wi all sort of name...Mi neven waan talk 'bout cause it make mi cry," she said.

As Christmas approaches, Wilson's simple wish is for the family to have a safe and enjoyable holiday. Her big ticket item is to get a better place to call home.

Wilson, 39, said that she has a back problem that prevents her from doing labour-intensive work, and that her children's father, Brown, 54, has been diagnosed with arthritis in both shoulders, which hinders him as well.

Wilson said that two of the children are asthmatic, one has two holes in her heart, and the other suffers from joint pains.

Their house is in a state of disrepair. Wilson said that things are so bad that she has to resort to using old clothes to plug holes in sections of the house to keep out water. In addition, Wilson said that frogs and slugs often make their way into the house because of the many holes.