Three years after the death of his mother, 18-year-old Shawn Melford is struggling to move on with his life.

Melford has not continued his education, though he passed eight Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate subjects.

He said his mother, who had slight difficulty with her sight, fell while walking to the bathroom at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH), where she was hospitalised for two weeks.

"I don't know up to this day what had happened to my mother why she was hospitalised in the first place, because the doctors couldn't tell what was wrong with her, but she wasn't in her rightful mind," he explained in an interview with The Gleaner.

Sighing continuously throughout the interview, Melford said, "My mother was a fighter because she used to sell bag juice and snacks to support me and my two siblings, then she develop it into a little shop which was going on good."

Following the passing of the bread-winner in his family, the 18-year-old, who hails from Tivoli, Kingston, said he continued school with the help of the good Samaritans at the institution.

Support from school

"I got a lot of support from persons at the school, but I still had it difficult. I was deprived of a lot of things that my mother would have given me," he lamented.

"Every day the finances get lower and lower I even couldn't find food on many occasions."

With all the struggles the inner-city youth has been through, he never allowed his ability to excel wither.

He made use of all the research tools at Denham Town High, as well as spent long hours copying resource materials, which he borrowed from students at the school.

"My mom wanted me to be successful, so no matter what, I always try to go the extra mile to get my school work done," Melford said.

He got distinctions in information technology as well as a credits in home economics, social studies, mathematics and a pass in English, history, clothing and textile and integrated studies.

Melford said the loss of his mother is even more telling now, as he cannot afford to further his education.

"I don't have the money to move on to sixth form or any tertiary institution. I get a four-month job to do filing at Denham Town High, but I will have to assist my younger brother and sister who are living with family members," he said.

"After the death of my mother everything crashed even the shop went down. But I won't give up as I would like to pursue a career in the field of information technology," he continued.