Shattered dreams but unbreakable spirit - Shamar Muir aims to soar after amputation

Shamar Muir, a 25-year-old from Kingston, Jamaica, is determined to become the nation's next Paralympic star and a strong advocate for disability rights. However, his journey has been anything but smooth.

Growing up in Allman Town, Kingston, Muir was a passionate athlete, with a deep love for track and field. As a student at Kingston College, he excelled in high jump. But in 2012, a routine practice session took a tragic turn. "I broke my leg," Muir recalls. "What followed was a nightmare of medical negligence."

After the injury, Muir was taken to a hospital in Kingston, where a private surgeon placed his leg in a cast from toe to groin. Initially, his recovery seemed promising, but, the following day, his condition deteriorated rapidly. "I started to lose feeling in my toes," he said, describing how the numbness turned into unbearable pain. Despite multiple surgeries and a prolonged hospital stay, his leg never fully healed.

"In just two to three months, I had undergone nine surgeries," Muir explained. "It wasn't until the third surgery that I realised how serious it was."

For a young teenager, this ordeal was life-altering. Muir's parents sought a second opinion and eventually transferred him to another hospital, but the damage was already done. "I felt like I was robbed of my teenage years," he lamented. The once active and outgoing boy became isolated and embarrassed. "I was scared to go out, scared to be seen," he confessed. "I felt like I lost everything."

Years of struggle and stagnation in Jamaica led Muir's father to make the difficult decision to move the family to Canada in search of better medical care. However, their hopes were dashed when the first surgeon they consulted delivered devastating news: amputation was the best option.

"I wasn't prepared for that," Muir admitted. "I went into that appointment expecting great news, only to be told they wanted to amputate."

The following years were marked by depression, regret, and a desperate search for answers. COVID-19 delayed further treatment, leaving Muir's life in limbo. "From 2020 to 2023, my life was stagnant again," he said. But during this time, Muir began to find a new purpose.

Through conversations with his girlfriend and reflecting on his future, Muir realised that he needed to take control of his life. The thought of not being able to fully participate in his future family's life motivated him to finally opt for the amputation.

"I started to look at life differently," Muir said. "I realised I couldn't walk with crutches and not be able to hold my child or bring him out of the hospital. I needed to make a change."

Meeting a man named Shawn, who had a similar condition, opened Muir's eyes to new possibilities. This connection, along with the support group he joined, gave him the courage to go through with the surgery.

As a person with a disability, Muir has faced discrimination and difficulties in finding jobs and accessing various services, both in Jamaica and Canada. Despite these challenges, he has started his own business with his girlfriend, operating multiple vending machines in different locations, while also working with a trucking company.

Muir is now in the process of getting prosthetics. In Canada, the government provides the first prosthetic leg for free, but the specialised blades needed for running come at a high cost--ranging from CAD$10,000 to $15,000.

Still an athlete at heart, Muir is determined to live the life he once dreamed of. "I'm not sure if I'll be in shape by the next Paralympics, but I want to compete. One thing I know for sure is that I want to do high jump again."

Muir is focused on turning his challenges into a source of strength, with dreams of representing Jamaica in the Paralympics. He is adjusting to his new life while also advocating for better medical care and support for amputees in Jamaica and beyond.

"I want to show others that you can still live a full life, even after something like this. I want to be that person," Muir said.