32-y-o mom with 8 children “cry tears of joy” as Jamaica show her love and support

The 32-year-old resident of Bartons, St Catherine fell on extremely hard times after a freak accident left her common-law-husband paralyzed. It is a devastating blow to the mother of eight children as her circumstances pushed her to the brink of depression.

With their livelihood so disrupted, their woes were compounded even further when Robinson’s brother Hakeem Robinson, 22, drowned leaving them to survive on handouts.

But when Old Harbour News published her painful story a month ago, readers came to her aid, offering to help in whatever way they can.

In a follow-up interview, Robinson said the signs are looking positive.

“I’m feeling a little bit better now that the kids them have food,” she said.

RELATED ARTICLE: Mom, 32, with 8 children cries for help

Thanks to Thomas Medical Centre, she said the children are able to attend school virtually after the company took on the responsibility to ensure that they have internet.

Her wish to establish a backyard poultry farm business is about to be realized with major conglomerate the Jamaica Broilers Group, through its subsidiary Hi-Pro Feeds, pledging to provide and sustain the operations for an undisclosed period.

Integral to this guaranteed support by Hi-Pro was the role of the South St Catherine Chamber of Commerce. Its president Treacha Reid said the team immediately got to work to galvanise the best support system for Robinson as her story left them in tears.

“I was compelled to assist her in whatever way we can,” said the chamber president. “We approached Jamaica Broilers asking them to assist us in assisting her with some chickens and feeds.”

Reid noted Robinson will receive specialized training from Jamaica Broilers technical team on how to “properly take care of the chicken and the coop” after the island’s largest poultry company reserved 150 broiler chicks and 20 bags of feed for the Bartons family.

“We have also gotten commitment for three or four tablets” for Robinson’s children to better equip themselves for online learning, added the president.

Many individuals and groups like the Ahamadiyya Muslim Jama’at Jamaica contributed to Robinson’s cause in cash or kind, but she didn’t want to mention the names of the individuals without seeking their approval first. She tells Old Harbour News that some contributors are based overseas and have been assisting her in small yet very meaningful ways to get her back into self-sustaining mode. 

Such heart-warming acts of benevolence have given her a different perspective of the peoples of this world. The moment her story was published, the calls to assist started to come in, she said.

“I cried tears of joy because it means somebody out there cares. They saw the pain that I was in and started to help. I was so emotional,” she said. “I was feeling alone knowing that I was going through all of that and no one was helping; even though I reached out no one was willing to help. But it depends on the media you use to get your message out.”

On social media Robinson who had her eighth child in the summer of this year, was harshly criticized by some persons who connected her circumstance with having too many children. She didn’t become dispirited by the unfair venom dished out at her, saying the “bashing only makes me stronger”. Her response isn’t a surprise for a woman who has had a torrid year that even her biggest critics would not wish to experience. She prefers to focus on the blessings flowing her; that her prayers, blood, sweat and tears are finally seeing her being lifted up by those with a heart of gold.

Partner’s medical condition

Results from an MRI done on the broken spine of her beloved partner Rodville Wallace, showed no signs of cancer, Robinson informed Old Harbour News. Thankfully after hearing such good news about her common-law-husband’s condition, her optimism of him leading a normal life remains high. Mr Wallace will now undergo another series of scans, she further disclosed before doctors schedule a date for surgery, which will likely cost a few millions in Jamaican dollars.

“Him [the doctor] have to go look deeper into the bone to see what is wrong because the MRI was only to see if there was cancer,” she said in a frustrating tone. “Him [orthopaedic] se getting back the MRI now him si where the bone is bulging out, so him want to do a next x-ray to see exactly what is causing the bone to be bulging out.”

She added: “He’s sending him [Mr Wallace] back to start over back [physio] therapy. I asked him to transfer him to the hospital because it is costing us a lot to see him privately.”

Marrying the perfect gentleman

Robinson and Wallace met after she had her first child, who is 17 years old. They were friends at first before their friendship became intimate years later. Their family expanded rapidly and she described her partner as “the perfect gentleman” who worked “very, very hard to take care of his family”.

Despite his current situation, as he’s unable to walk unaided, Robinson’s love for her lifelong mate is stronger than ever.

On Sunday the two displayed their undying devotion to each other by getting married at a private wedding ceremony, with all expense borne by the marriage officer.

Reid, who is the head honcho of one of Jamaica’s premier day spa, Shades of Elegance located here in Old Harbour, offered to get Robinson all dolled up pro bono.

“I just want to express a big thank you to the community of Old Harbour for rendering assistance. A lot of persons have jumped to her rescue and I just want to give a big heartfelt thank you to those who reached out to her and assisted her,” said Reid.

And after saying I do to the love of her life, Robinson is expressing gratitude. 

“I would like to say many, many thanks to all who reached out to help me. They could have read the story like a lot did and didn’t want to help. But they have reached out after seeing my needs and decided to help this lady with her family. May God continue to bless them so they can help somebody else who is in need like myself out there,” she said.