Kayon Morris - Riding out his storm

Last year, Kayon Morris was happily making fashion jewellery with beads, and enjoying a decent living from it. So good was business that he could afford to take care of his two children ages 10 and eight while helping out his two sisters who were attending college.

On August 29, three bullets tore his world apart. Today, one of those bullets is still lodged in his back.

As Morris spoke with Rural Xpress his eyes filled with tears.

"Look at me now. I am in need of corrective surgery to the tune of a million dollars," he said.

Morris said the pain he bears on a daily basis is excruciating. He will continue to be in pain until he can do a urethral corrective surgery and remove the bullet from his back.

He recalled the moment his life changed forever.

"After coming from work I decided I would attend the wake of a respected elderly man from the area. I also perform on set-up bands, so I planned on taking part in the singing," he said.

 

Frightening experience

 

Morris said as he made his way out of the lane in Oliver Gardens, May Pen, Clarendon, where he lived, he was approached by men disguised as police officers.

"I wasn't frightened, I was more surprised. I just stood there looking at them when I had a feeling I should run," he said.

He said he shouted the same instructions to an older man who was ahead of him in the lane and then he, too, bolted.

Three gunshots rang out.

"I fell, got up and continued running," said Morris adding that he was eventually rescued and taken to the May Pen Hospital and later on to the Kingston Public Hospital. He has since done two surgeries, with another corrective surgery needed.

 

Danger of despair

 

"I was in danger of sinking into despair. When I look at what my life has become. I am used to taking care of myself and others. I have a clean heart, so why?" he said.

Morris said what got him out of his depression was a song his friend sent to him titled Ride Out Your Storm.

"I feasted on it day and night until I started feeling much better," he shared.

Although he sees no solution in sight, Morris is still giving God thanks because, he said, he could have been killed.

Morris is pleading for help to get the surgery done.

"I am just hoping for the best. I want to do the surgery so I can put my life back together again. Sometimes I look at myself and just burst into tears, because this is not me," he said.

"My dream is to just get this break. I want to put all this behind me and once again get back to what I do best creating beauty out of beads."