Resilience amid ruin

Seven years after losing both arms to electrocution while gathering breadfruit for a neighbour, Brandon Miller is struggling to stay afloat. His ongoing difficulties with unemployment and worsening living conditions are beginning to undermine his previously hopeful mental state.

The now-33-year-old resident of Paradise Acres in St James told The Sunday Gleaner that the incident landed him at the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) in St James, but he was later transferred to the Falmouth Hospital in Trelawny, where he remained for some nine months. It was during this hospital stay that his arms were surgically removed to save his life, Miller said.

“I was just doing a generous favour for someone. When I climbed the tree, I had an iron stick. I was facing the house and no current (electric wire) was in my region. A tree limb came down with the iron and that caused me to get shocked. I didn't physically lose my limbs when I got shocked. It was amputated,” he explained.

Though grateful that his life was spared, Miller believes a lack of resources at the two western Jamaica-based public hospitals contributed to the amputation of his arms.

“They did not have the best [resources] for burn patients at the time because if they had brought me to Kingston or sent me overseas, I don't think my arms would have been amputated. They wrapped me up like a mummy and that caused my skin to deteriorate, … so they said I had to choose to lose my hands or I might die,” Miller said.

Before his world drastically changed, Miller was a young mason and welder and enjoyed an independent lifestyle. He was also eager to dabble in music production and graphic design, which he said were two of his career interests in his early twenties.

Miller further told The Sunday Gleaner that since his accident, life has taken a tragic turn for the worse, as he is no longer able to do simple tasks that require the usage of his hands. He also lives alone, so his home has become neglected and dilapidated.

During a visit, Miller described how parts of his roof collapsed during Hurricane Beryl in July, forcing him to move to a different area of the house. He also lacks proper bathroom facilities and a functional kitchen due to the poor condition of his home. His electricity has been cut off, and the overgrown bushes in his yard paint a clear picture of neglect and abandonment.

Life has also become lonely for Miller, who said his social life is being affected by the stigma associated with the disabled community.

“The whole perception of how people see me is different, and sometimes it's overwhelming because people judge you by how you look. That's very challenging for me sometimes, but I have an optimistic mindset about life and I know that once you have life, that's the greatest element,” he reasoned.

“I have family support in some ways. Mentally? No. Physically? Just my mother was there, but she is now sick, so she is out of the picture. My grandmother is the one who helps me financially sometimes and sees to it that I get a little change in my pocket to carry me on,” he revealed.

Miller still has a knack for graphic design and music production. He told The Sunday Gleaner that he has since learned to utilise his toes to express his love for the arts, and during a recent visit to his Paradise Crescent community, he showed our news team a few event flyers he created. He also pointed out that he voiced and recorded a song blasting from speakers inside a nearby shop.

“It was something that I have always been very interested in, but I used to make regular song flyers. I went deep into it when I lost my hands. I didn't have anything to do, so I just used my brain to be creative, and other people inspired me as well. So I started building riddims (instrumentals) at my home, voiced myself, and then produced it. I use my toes to type or I use my elbow, but sometimes when I am pressing the keyboard with my elbow, it hurts me, so I like to use my toes. I even print shirts.”

He is proud of what he has been able to do.

“I don't even view myself as a disabled person. Visually, you won't see my hands, but spiritually, they are there. That's how I view myself,” he said.

However, through nervous smiles and glances, Miller explained he has been struggling financially as he no longer has access to a laptop. This has further impacted his ability to express his creativity and emotions through art.

“I am currently not working right now because I had a laptop, but it was broken. Someone ended up stealing it from me, so I haven't been putting in a lot of work,” he told The Sunday Gleaner.

Miller also expressed a strong desire to receive at least one prosthetic arm to enable him to work and support himself financially. He has applied for aid through the New Limb, New Life programme introduced by the Ministry of Health and Wellness in 2023 and is hopeful for a positive outcome. Additionally, he has been exploring options for prosthetic arms from overseas companies, but the high costs are beyond his means.

“They have a company in the United States that makes prosthetic limbs. They said that the left side alone is US$24,000 (approximately J$3.8 million). I did a Google meeting with them the other day and they showed me the hands, but I need some help to get the prosthetic,” he said.

rochelle.clayton@gleanerjm.com