Prosthetics helps Kim become a Registered Nurse — A personal story
Just a few years ago Jamaica Awareness Association of California went on its annual mission trip and the members were hosted at the Anglican Parish church in Port Maria, St Mary. There we found Valrie Johnson (Kim).
Kim had to move around on crutches because one of her legs is crooked and atrophied. At the age of sixteen Kim was an average student who traveled 8 miles by bus and then walked a half-a-mike, uphill to school. This may have become her daily normal but I knew this was no simple feat.
Consequently, JAAC decided to give a helping hand. The doctors associated with the JAAC mission assisted the organization. and Kim with travel to California, amputate and replace her leg with prosthesis; while several members chimed in with housing, finance, food, transportation, and continuing education while Kim lived in California.
Kim was ready to return to school at Oracabessa High School in St Mary after an 8 months absence.
Linda Coy, a nurse by profession, with whom Kim and her aunt (chaperone) resided during the time in California, helped Kim in her school preparation and encouraged her to reach for the stars. “You can become a nurse too if you really want to,” Linda told her.
With a prosthetic leg, a new look, a different attitude, Kim returned to Jamaica and aced her final year of. high school then turned her attention to tertiary education in nursing. “it’s what Miss Linda and I discussed, I wanted to be a nurse like her”.
The members of JAAC were astonished about this unexpected spark in Kim so we all decided to help her fulfill her dream.
Four years later, through the ups and downs of life at Browns Town Community College Nursing School, Kim will graduate November 2nd, 2019. A reunion of the many persons in Kim’s journey is planned and I can’t wait to see her walk in her graduation cap. We are proud of Valrie “Kim” Johnson. Many young ladies could fall victim to sex, drugs, early pregnancies, lack of hope but Kim made us proud by converting the helping hand into an unexpected result. Valrie “Kim” Johnson will be a registered nurse.
Sharon Small
