This is the story, in his own words, of a father's determination to find his son after his separation from the child's mother.

"I live in Old Harbour, St Catherine, and I am 34 years old. My son's mother and I were on and off in a relationship for almost three years.

Our son, was conceived during that time. He turned two in August this year.

"His mother spent a lot of time with me when she got pregnant with the boy. She was living in Rock River, Clarendon, at the time. This was in January of 2006. Well, after that we hardly spoke unless she wanted money to see her doctor.

"I would send it to her via my friend. The first time I saw her when she was pregnant was when she was about seven months along. When my son was born, I wasn't there; she tried to call me, but my phone wasn't working so I missed the calls.

No funds

"When I called her, the very next day after he was born, she told me I had a son. I was happy. Needless to say I had no funds, so I never got to see him until he was two weeks old. I got a friend to take me to Clarendon where I got her and the baby and took them to my home in Old Harbour. Everyone was happy to see them.

"During the next couple of months we reconnected. She told me that she owed the hospital (May Pen) some money for the time she spent there. Without it being paid, we could not get him registered. I said, "OK then. I'll get the cash and we can go sort it out." When my son was four months I called her one day and told her to meet me in May Pen so we could get his registration done.

"She said OK, but not that day, as she was busy. No problem. Later she called me to say her purse with her passport was lost, so I told her to report it as she had no other ID. I told her to meet me and let's go get our son registered. She said she could not as she had no ID.

Wait

She couldn't find her birth certificate and she had to wait until her mother (who lives in The Bahamas) returned so she could get one.

"By now I was getting frustrated, but never read anything into it. She would come and spend up to two weeks sometimes with me. My parents returned from overseas in March last year; two weeks later, my dad died. I wasn't at home at the time and when I got the call, I called and told her.

Unemployed

"After my dad was buried, she went home. She came to see me a few times after that. About two months after, she told me she was getting back together with her first child's father. I told her it was her life, so she could do whatever she wanted, just make sure I have access to my son. During all this time I wasn't working and the little cash I got from odd jobs I used to make sure my son never lacked anything.

"Well, after this, I still got my son on a regular basis to stay with me. One day I called her and asked her to bring the baby to me. She said she wasn't where the child was. I asked where he was, thinking he was with her sister. She told me he was in Portmore with his godmother. I don't know his godmother so I got angry with her and told her I didn't want him staying with people I didn't know.

"She said she was going for him the next day. I did not sleep till I heard his voice on her phone. I told her no matter what she was doing or where she was going, not to leave my child alone with anyone apart from her sister or bring him to me. I asked when we were going to get him registered, and she kept putting it off.

"When our son was seven months old she said she wanted him to stop nursing, so I told her to bring him to me, and I would keep him for a while. This she did and it was OK. As I had everything he needed, he spent three weeks with me without seeing her. When she came for him saying she missed him, he was weaned.

Whacked

"After this, when his first birthday was coming (August 2007) I called and told her to bring him to me as this was special to him and me; she refused. I was mad as hell. She wasn't in Rock River and she did not answer my calls. In September, when I finally got to her she told me her phone got whacked.

"When it came around to Christmas, the same thing happened. No matter how I called, she refused to take him to see me. I spent the most miserable holidays last Christmas because I was worried about my son. She called one day in January and told me I could come for him.

"When I got to her house it was almost dark, but I packed some of his stuff, and when I was leaving, his brother said he wanted to come with me, too. He had spent a lot of time with me also. So, I took both of them.

Nothing

"I had my son for all of three weeks, and when my funds got low I called her and told her I was bringing him to her as I had to get something to do so I can get some cash. The next week she called and said she had nothing for him to eat and I should meet her in May Pen the next morning with some funds.

"I said OK. When I got there and called her, she said she was in Palmer's Cross, Clarendon, and I should go there. I went and had to wait about 15 minutes for her. She came with both children and we left for May Pen, where we got some stuff for them. That was the last time I saw my son."

paul.williams@gleanerjm.com.

The names of those involved have been removed due to the sensitive nature of the story. Next Monday events take a very interesting twist. It's a must-read.