Greetings readers, welcome back to my blog. Hope all is well and that you and your family are safe in these troubling times. I asked about your family because to me, family is important. We may not always see eye to eye but when serious matters occur, they band together regardless of past discrepancies. 

 We`re at Sangre Grande General Hospital and I had spent the greater part of the morning with my mother at the men`s ward awaiting a doctor. I was reviewed and sent back home to continue treatment as an outpatient with a referral letter to return Wednesday.  

 Wednesday came and there was little change in my condition. From a little below my knees down were completely numb and still cold to the touch. Moving my toes was now extremely difficult not to mention very painful. Again, my family had to carry me during our travels to the hospital. We spent the day there and when my mom grew tired of my soft moans and waiting, she approached counter, expressing her displeasure. She spoke loud enough to be heard but not to be seen as rowdy, explaining our situation and questioned why it was taking so long for a doctor to see me. 

 A doctor came forward, apologized and asked to see me. After examining me and running a few tests, she called another doctor for a second opinion. They ran another trial of the same tests and asked how long I was experiencing this as the results were very alarming. They requested a surgeon to examine me and ran new tests. When the results came in, they admitted me to a ward immediately, stating that they couldn`t believe I was sent home multiple times with such frightening results. By now it was evident that something was clogging the blood vessels in my feet as there was no pulse in my legs and the fact, that they were cold, were signs of lack of blood flow which would result in necrosis. The diagnosis was again, Peripheral Arterial Disease.  

 I spent four days warded at the Sangre Grande Hospital. During that time, I was administered Heparin, a blood thinner and Morphine, an opioid pain medication every four hours. But despite the meds my condition grew worse and I was soon transferred to Mt Hope General Hospital, as there were no vascular surgeons at Sangre Grande and they had done all that they could. 

 At Mt Hope, they ran more tests and I was re-diagnosed with Vasculitis, a rare disorder that causes inflammation in the blood vessels. This was very peculiar as the disorder itself is rare and even rarer in someone as young as myself. The medication administered to me was slightly altered with the inclusion in Pethidine, a synthetic opioid pain medication as Morphine was highly addictive. After a few days at Mt Hope, I was informed that they would have to amputate my legs, as my legs were now dying. All the pain I felt was from my body forcibly pumping blood through tiny spaces due to inflammation and as the cells and tissues in my feet die, they could poison and affect my organs. To monitor my condition until amputation, I had to give several blood samples every six hours. 

 The news was unbearable, that night I cried and asked my mother if she would allow them to end my life then and there. As a dancer and someone whose sporting/physically active, my legs were essential to do what I do and as a person, removing a part of my body didn’t sit well with me at all. Though my family and friends tried to comfort me whenever they visited, I could tell that they too were devastated at how things had turned out. Within a couple days my entire life had and would continue change.  

 Thank you for reading this post, it means a lot to have the opportunity to share my story. Please be advised to the pictures of my legs before and after amputation as the material may be graphic to sensitive viewers.  

 Good night to you my readers. How was your day? How have you been these past few days? Why I ask these questions? You should read the previous posts to answer the last one.  

 So, we`ve entered the month of October now and after all that action from the sports day, I was hella tired. I mean my legs were sore from running, my arms from pulling and my voice was hoarse from shouting. Of course, I had to cheer and motivate my teammates whenever they were participating in an event. When it comes to supporting people, I consider my friends or family, I`m there one hundred. Ask anyone of them, they`ll tell you. Having such an enthusiastic and charismatic personality has helped me a lot especially after what's about to happen. I tried to rest but unfortunately my sinus had other plans. My sister and I were plagued with runny noses and high fever. 

The day after my flare up, things cooled down a bit, literally. With the fever and sniffles gone the next day, I had a hankering for chow. Again, my sister shared my sentiment and we set off for the ingredients. We made our way to a pommecythere tree that grew not far from our home. As we walked, I noticed that my legs were still throbbing. “Probably still sore, huh. I did do a lot for the sports.” I said to myself. I was asked to participate in any event I was eligible to and I really overworked myself that day so I expected some repercussions. We neared the tree and I felt like if I walked a kilometer. It took while to get the pommecytheres as my legs protested every climb I made and the trip home was even more grueling. I sat and tried to rest while we prepared the chow. Once she heard my plight my sister reluctantly played the part of *go for* to assemble the other ingredients and did the clean-up. I spent the rest of day doing nothing barely moving in hopes that it would alleviate the soreness.

 The next morning, I had difficulty getting out of bed and by next day the pain had become more intolerable. My mom spent the night trying different remedies in an attempt to ease my aching feet, which were now ice cold. She demanded that I visit the health center, on my way I lost my phone and had a seizure while upon arriving at the center.  

 I was rushed to the Sangre Grande General Hospital, the doctor stated that my feet appeared “dusty with white toenails” and were showing signs of Peripheral Arterial Disease. A disease that causes narrowing of the veins thus reducing blood flow, usually in the legs. With my mom and little sister as company, I spent the night at the hospital and was discharged the next morning to be treated as an outpatient. An assortment of meds which included blood thinners and pain killers was given to me. The other medication my mother had to purchase as the hospital didn’t have them. 

 That weekend, things was manageable until Monday when there was no longer any feeling in my feet except pain. So, back to the health center but by now I could no longer move on my own and needed help from my family. When the doctor at the center sent us back to Sande Grande, they had to carry me at times during the trip.  

 I`ll end here for now. The next post is the last for the assignment but like I said, I`ll be continuing this blog after that and I do hope you`ll stay and read some more. Thank you for your time and I hope you enjoy the rest of your day or night, whenever it is you read this, and be safe out there. 

  

 Hello again and welcome back to my blog. How was your weekend? How was your day? And most importantly, how are you? I`m asking because like I said before, I plan to continue the blog beyond its initial purpose as just a course work assignment. As such, I want to make it a bit interactive, you know? And this would also be somewhat personal. I don’t plan to simply state my biz but as time goes on, I would share my inner thoughts and feelings as well. I just hope that’s okay. 

 If you`ve read the previous post, you`d have a little idea of who and the type of person I am. If not, then I suggest you do so before reading this.  

 After having all those experiences during the July/August period, I felt great. I was no longer feeling stressed and depressed about not getting my certificate. And started working a second job to help pay for my new academic endeavors. The two jobs were convenient enough that I could work both and attend classes. So, I thought this was going to be easy, boy was I wrong. 

 First thing to go wrong was the second job. As a child I suffered with severe headaches that would sometimes last for days. When I was 15, I had my first seizure and at 17 they became more prominent. A year later I was diagnosed epileptic. With medication and therapy, I began to understand and cope with my condition. Learning my triggers and measures to ensure my safety and those around me. This brought immense pressure when maintaining my first job and it was the cause of me losing my second. 

 As the loss of the second job was a big hit and my academic future was now uncertain. Things on my first job spiraled out of order next. My first job was at a local KFC franchise and I started working there in 2015. The store is lovely and the staff can be wonderful but, the manager and I would often butt heads on work ethics. Even when I asked for a transfer to another store to further my education, after working at the store for almost 2 years, was an issue. And when I returned home, I was transferred from the store in Arouca. As I started working in home store, I applied my new knowledge on store operations, as Arouca wasn’t the only store I worked at and I was even given the opportunity to learn things on the management level while I was away. My time there wasn’t long as history would repeat itself, my manager and I again, clashed on the work ethics of the store. After one week and two meetings with a higher level of management, I received a letter in the mail stating the termination of my contract. 

 I was torn between confusion and disbelief. What is happening? How am I going to pay for my studies now? Can I find another job in time? Why is this happening now? These were the questions racing through my mind. However, I could not answer these questions as I had a sporting event to prepare for. My little sister was asked to be a part of the Mayaro Wellness Center`s team for the Eastern Regional Health Authority`s Sports and Family Day and I was originally supposed to be just morale support but ended up participating. I was a part of the march past and was heavily involved in the sporting activities, we placed second both in the march past and with our final score overall, again we placed second. I really enjoyed that sports and though we didn’t come first, I felt like we did. I guess there was a reason why I felt that way as four days later I was unable to walk. 

 Hello, my name is Justin Jarvis and as the title of this blog states I am an amputee. A double bilateral amputee to be precise but I won`t get into that part yet so I`ll start with how life was for me before my amputation. 

 Hailing from a community called Grand Lagoon located along the Mayaro/Guayaguayare Road which takes up a small part of the greater Mayaro county. In a household of seven the place seems crammed but somehow, we all find our own space. For me it was the scenic views when standing on top of the hill or down on the beach bathing in the salty waters, so that wasn’t too difficult. 

 I returned home during April of last year after spending four years trying to further my education while supporting myself. I lived and worked in Arouca for the greater part of those years in my pursuit of a certificate in Agriculture at the Eastern Caribbean Institute of Agriculture and Forestry. I`ve always wanted to attend E.C.I.A.F and I love agriculture. So, I studied to meet the requirements so that I could apply however the pressures of my work life and personal life soon clashed and I was left with no choice but to return home. 

 This for me was very disheartening as my whole life was thrown off course. I had to leave the apartment I worked hard to achieve, the friends I made and I had to give up on my aspirations. A kaleidoscope of feelings washed over me for many weeks as I adjusted to the new living conditions. 

I was able to keep my job and reconnected with old friends and family which made things a little easier. As time went on, the July/August period came and I got re-involved in the activities of the Mayaro Police Youth Club and Project X. The former the youth club(s) of Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and the later a local NGO and I was a member of both before I left. I got involved in other social groups and NGOs and participated in hikes and sporting events. Went on excursions with friends as some of our birthdays, including mines, was around that time as well as seen in the pictures below. I`ll post more as I go on

 I thought life was looking up again, you know? That I just went through a rough patch and was getting back on my feet. Things at home smoothed out and I got another job to help finance my new academic course of direction. I was even given the opportunity to sit on the executive of the youth groups I was involved in. So, for me, things were going even better, little did I know I was about to face the biggest challenge of my life thus far. 

 That’s all for now. I`ll continue in my next post. This was originally to be an assignment for a course I'm currently undertaking but given my circumstance I`ve been told many times to do something like this. As such I decided to make this official and continue to utilize this blog after I`ve successfully completed the course as a means of sharing my story. 

 Until next time!