SUSAN WHILBY, the disabled daughter of St. Ann farmers has had her life successfully transformed.
The fifth of nine children born to Vincent and Clover Whilby, Susan, a student at Ardenne High was born with a disability which affects both lower limbs and her upper right arm. This prevented her from moving independently and the difficulty stairs posed for her, demanded that she has an attendant at all times. The attendant helped her to get to classes and move around in places which necessitated second floor access.
Despite her challenges, she continued to achieve academically and prompted the Lions Club of Mona, which after many years of effort and working in partnership with a number of organisations to begin a project that would change her life.
Susan, a pleasant but reserved young lady aspires to become an accountant or a fashion designer. On one visit by the Lions, Susan indicated that she was looking forward to travelling to the United States and being able to walk freely one day.
The Lions Club sought and obtained partnership with colleagues in New Jersey who arranged for visits to a hospital in New York. A full assessment and measurements for prostheses was done.
Air Jamaica donated return tickets to New York for Susan and her attendant on two occasions.
When US$25,000 was quoted for building and fitting the prostheses, the search for assistance continued as the aim was to ensure the project was completed and Susan's life would change forever. The search led to the Shriners Hospital in Tampa Florida and Tom Valiant of Ortho Remedy who was to design and fit the prostheses while Susan would undergo physiotherapy and checks at the Shriners Hospital.
Arrangements were made for Susan to complete her treatment this summer. Susan returns to the island today on her way to being independently mobile and a step closer to her dreams of being an accountant.
The Lions were assisted by doctors at the Sir John Golding centre who continually did assessments for presenting to interests abroad, Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD), Susan's guardian and assistant Jacqueline Bennett, National Housing Trust (NHT), Scotiabank (BNS) and others. The total value on this project was $2 million.
The project started in 1999 when one of the working committees of the Lions Club partnered with the JCPD in a project to paint universal access signs on designated parking spaces islandwide. Lions painted these areas at the designated public parking lots - visible at several places on the University of the West Indies campus, BNS, NHT, Park Boulevard and Montego Bay, University of Technology and two Mona churches. The club realised $50,000 given as donations from the companies that had signs painted at their offices.
With the funds raised, the decision was taken to plough the money back into other projects to help persons with disabilities.
