Joyce Wright - Chad Bryan photo

If one takes a look at the tragic elements of 68-year-old Joyce Wright's story, it is evident that the nomadic, visually impaired woman is in dire need of assistance.

Wright explains that she resides mostly in Richmond, St Mary, in a little house with menial amenities that was rented to her for $1,000 monthly by a woman she has known and with whom she attends church on occasions. Since Hurricane Sandy, Wright has not returned to the home after hearing that it had been damaged.

"I live in a little house in St Mary. It was rented to me by a lady who I go church with sometimes. I know her for years but I can't really stay there. The house has no toilet or bathroom and is the pit toilet I have to be using and it is not pleasant. I have to use people's toilets in the community," explained Wright.

Wright also explained that she had been in Canada for sometime but came back in 2007 because of the poor weather conditions. With no family locally who could assist her, Wright relies on her brother, who also resides in Canada and who suffers from prostate cancer, to send her CAD$50 monthly.

"I used to live in Canada but it was so cold I had to come back. I don't really like asking family you know. They can be really fussy. If I can get a room for myself like for $3,000 or so, I will take care of myself," she stated.

She has also expressed the difficulty she has had in travelling from St Mary to Kingston to seek medical attention to deal with her blindness as well as her high blood pressure. She says she normally stays with people in various parts of Kingston.

"Sometimes I have to go to DrugServ at Cross Roads. St Mary doesn't really have an eye clinic. I live alone you know, and I find it very difficult. I have to go to a doctor in Olympic Way to get my pressure tablets," stated Wright.

Lesline Downer, a woman with whom she resides with for a week or sometimes a few days, explained, "I know her for a while now. She doesn't really live anywhere. She doesn't have anybody, her family have all turned their back on her. She stays with me sometimes but I don't have the space to accommodate her".

Downer continued, "I am recommending that somebody help her, she needs it badly". For assistance Wright can be contacted 430-7649.