Roshane, who has won numerous awards at the Special Olympics and wants to be a businessman, gives his mother, Jenny Facey, an 'I love you' hug. - Photos by Andrew Wildes

Adversity after adversity, they have challenged each other to endure.

JENNY FACEY simply cannot speak about her son Roshane without crying.

"I always have to cry because I remember where I'm coming from with him. I remember, but by the help of God, I made it."

When Jenny Facey received news that her new-born boy, Roshane, was mentally and physically challenged, she had no idea how serious his needs were until she took him home and recognised that he was completely helpless.

Without the support of a father, Facey and Roshane have had to weather extraordinary hardships. Adversity after adversity, they have challenged each other to endure, and today, their lives tell the story of how a mother's self-sacrificing love can inspire indomitable optimism in the life of a child with seemingly, the most insurmountable challenges.

problems from birth

The problems with Roshane started at birth. He was incapable of helping himself, a reality that caused his mother greater grief as he grew heavier and heavier.

"He could not do anything for himself; I had to do everything for him, basically. I had to bathe him, feed him. One time, I said to God, 'God, how long am I going to endure all these things'?"

When Roshane was four, the situation became so desperate that Facey was forced to quit her job to take care of her son full time. It was a decision which, Facey recalls, was based purely on faith - because as a single mother, she was largely dependent on her own efforts for a steady income.

"I didn't have any work, but I said to myself that God would make a way and he would provide," Facey recounts.

Despite the many challenges, Roshane did not lose hope. In fact, it seemed that daily, his thirst to experience life deepened. Even at age nine, Roshane could not walk or talk, but he insisted on attending public school.

"He was very eager to attend school, but the principal told me that he couldn't take him because he doesn't have a chair, and he cannot walk - he is on his knees."

Facey was in a panic. However, she had just returned to work at that time and decided that she would approach her boss for help. God smiled upon her and a chair was provided for Roshane to attend school by the following day.

another obstacle

Having received his wheelchair, Roshane started classes at the Woodlawn School of Special Education in Mandeville. However, in no time, another obstacle arose, again threatening to dash his hopes.

"He went to school in the chair and gradually, the children break up the chair," Facey said.

"I started to cry, and said, 'He alone cannot stay home, what am I going to do?' So, Ms McCalla (the guidance counsellor) told me that I must send him to school, because the children love him and the children will take care of him," Facey shared.

Facey obeyed. She sent Roshane by taxi to school each day, and as was promised, Roshane's classmates would meet him at the taxi and take him to class or wherever he needed to go.

That was only the beginning of Roshane's big adventure. When he was ten years old, he had surgery on both legs and made a giant leap. He competed in the Special Olympics in both softball and walking!

He did so well in the competition that he was awarded the Spirit of Special Olympics Award for 2006-2007, in addition to receiving medals for the races he won.

Today, Roshane is looking towards the future with great expectation. He told The Sunday Gleaner that he wants to become a businessman - dealing with cars. Why cars? He says he likes "how they look, and how they sound".

Roshane has one more pressing need. He cannot write with a pen or pencil and so needs a special computer. It is a tool, his mom said, that his teachers suggested would greatly assist him to advance in his work.

andrew.wildes@gleanerjm.com