No passport, no help - Desperate mom fights for British-born special needs teen

Aminthe Spence-Deidrick is at her breaking point. For 15 years, she has carried the weight of caring for her special needs daughter, Aleisha Deidrick, who now faces an uncertain future due to citizenship dilemma and a life of hardship in Jamaica.

Aleisha was just two years old when her mother made the difficult decision to leave England and return to Jamaica, walking away from her marriage in hopes of a fresh start. But that decision has come at a hefty cost.

Despite being born at the Jessop Wing in Sheffield, England, Aleisha travelled on her mother's passport to Jamaica as a tiny tot because her mother did not apply for a passport for her.

To compound the citizenship dilemma, Spence-Deidrick has not registered her child as a Jamaican, which, in effect has cut her off from vital support systems in both England and Jamaica.

"She has chronic lung disease, asthma, hearing problems, and a problem with her eyes. All of this is from birth. She came here with a hearing aid and glasses but grew that out altogether. I work on and off because I have to stay home with her. She's very vulnerable. Things have been very rough," Spence-Deidrick said.

Aleisha, now 17 and a student at Llandilo School of Special Education, often misses classes because her mother can't afford transportation. Their financial struggles have deepened since Spence-Deidrick lost her housekeeping job four months ago, forcing her to rely on family and occasional help from the school.

"Family members try to assist with food and clothing, but not everybody wants to do that because it's not their responsibility. The teachers and principal try to assist me in any way that they can with food and lunch for her. A nuff food come on my table from the school," she shared.

Their living conditions add to Aleisha's health challenges. Their home in Delveland, Westmoreland, is ill-equipped for her medical needs. Leaky roofing and mould-filled rooms worsen Aleisha's asthma, leaving the family trapped in an unhealthy environment.

Efforts to secure government support have hit dead ends. She said the PATH programme has denied assistance, citing Aleisha's lack of Jamaican citizenship. Attempts to obtain her British passport have failed to move forward, with the British High Commission reportedly requesting documents Spence-Deidrick said she is unable to access, including her estranged ex-husband's passport details.

"I brought all the documents stating that she's a British citizen. They said that I needed the number of her dad's passport, but I'm not able to locate him. Since we came here in January 2010, we have only spoken on the phone two times," she revealed.

When asked why she has not sought Jamaican citizenship for Aleisha, Spence-Deidrick said that she was instructed to visit the Montego Bay, St James, office of the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency, but failed to follow up.

The strain has left Spence-Deidrick emotionally and physically drained. Her search for help has forced her into survival mode, making painful sacrifices to care for her children.

"I just need her to benefit from her country and be able to get assistance, but I can't do it alone .... I am 48 years old and I am not supposed to be living like this," she said, holding back tears.

Yet, despite her challenges, Aleisha has moments of triumph. At school, she's a star on the track, defying the odds doctors once placed on her fragile body.

"She can run and she is a champion girl for her school. I remember when she was born, they said that because of how vulnerable she was, she wouldn't be able to run. But now I have a lot of medals from her school," Spence-Deidrick shared proudly.

Aleisha dreams of returning to England and studying cosmetology, hoping for a life beyond survival.

"I want to go back home and live life," Aleisha said softly.

But without intervention, those dreams hang in the balance. Spence-Deidrick is now making a public plea for help -- for her daughter's future and for relief from the life of hardship she's endured for too long.

"I would love it if some plans could be put in place to assist her and take me out of my misery," she said.