No arms, no limits - Brandon Miller shares story of resilience after being electrocuted

For most of his adult life, Brandon Miller, a Montego Bay, St James resident, worked as a welder and was known for his excellence in the trade.

In his circle, he was also recognised by his recording artiste moniker, Onedankz. His life seemed to be following the path he had envisioned, but on July 25, 2018 everything changed. At the age of 33, Miller's life took a tragic turn when he was electrocuted while performing a good Samaritan act for one of his neighbours. The incident resulted in the loss of both his arms.

"A lady had asked me to do a good gesture for her and pick some breadfruit. I went over to her yard, climbed the tree, and started picking. There was a high-tension wire running through the tree, but at the time I didn't notice. I remember feeling my body go numb, and that's when I realised something was wrong. I was conscious the entire time, trying to let go of the stick I was holding, but I couldn't," he recalled.

As the electrical current surged through his body, Miller said he prayed fervently for his life to be spared, hoping his prayers would not go unanswered.

"I just couldn't move, but I started praying to fada God, begging Him not to let the current kill me. And He answered my prayer. The transformer burst, and the current threw me out of the tree. I dropped about 40 feet to the ground and lost consciousness. When I came to, I saw a crowd of people crying. They were afraid to touch me because they said they could still feel the current from my body. Eventually, they picked me up and rushed me to the hospital," he said.

Miller spent three days at the Cornwall Regional Hospital before being transferred to Falmouth Hospital, where he remained for nine months. In addition to suffering third-degree burns across his body, he lost both arms.

"They told me that they needed to amputate my hands because they were infected, and the infection could spread and kill me. It took me a little while to make the decision, but my mother told me she'd rather have me with no hands than lose me. My mother and grandmother were really my backbone through all of this. My family gave me so much support, but the people I thought would be there for me didn't visit or even call," Miller shared.

While the accident set him back physically, Miller said it also offered him an opportunity for deep reflection.

"I've observed so many things that I wouldn't have noticed if I still had my hands. This experience has taught me to be self-reliant and independent. It's taught me confidence and determination. I can walk and move around, and despite everything, I'm still pushing forward with my music career. I've also ventured into the world of graphic design," he explained.

Miller, who has a large following on TikTok, uses his platform to inspire others living with disabilities, while promoting his music and graphic design business.

"I'm an advocate for people living with disabilities, and I want them to know that just because we're in a different position doesn't mean we're not living. Our lives are just as valuable as those who are fully able. I just want people to give us a chance to prove ourselves," Miller added.