Hurricane fear for single mom of special needs daughters

As Category 5 Hurricane Beryl steadily approaches Jamaica, a single mother of two special needs daughters is on edge as she worries about her home's ability to withstand heavy rains and strong winds.

Sheryl Bromley, who hails from Mount Lebanus, St Thomas, told THE STAR that her older daughter is 24, autistic and non-verbal, while her younger child, who is 17, lives with severe epilepsy. Because she has to care for them, Bromley said that she has been unable to work for years and has few resources to prepare for the hurricane.

"Right now one strong breeze can blow off the roof and mi nuh have it fi prepare for any hurricane. We just afi a tek it day by day and hope fi the best," Bromley said. She said that a woman promised to reach out to political representatives to assist her, but the pandemic unfolded and she has not heard anything more about potential help. Currently, Bromley and her daughters live in a three-bedroom house with an outside bathroom. But the house, which she inherited from her parents, has been around for more than 60 years, and is now in a deplorable condition.

"Part a di flooring is pulling away and when the rain fall, is problem because the top a leak a lot because the top is zinc, and the floor is board," Bromley said, adding that both her daughters' fathers are deceased, and her family solely survives on the kindness of others.

"Mi live here a long time and people know mi condition and know seh mi cannot work because mi afi care fi mi girls dem. Suh a dem help me out and mek sure seh wi have food and nuh dead fi hungry," Bromley said. She is pleading for any assistance that persons can give her.

"Mi cah tell yuh enough how much mi would appreciate the help, not only fi survive di storm but suh mi daughter dem can live better, and more comfortable. Mi cah really duh much because mi cah leave them suh mi really need some help," Bromley said.

Persons wishing to assist Sheryl Bromley and her daughters may contact her at 876-237-2465.