family seeks help for child suffering from Tibial Hemimelia

SHANICE WATSON, STAR Writer

"Believe in yourself and don't let anybody treat you different from any other person."

This is the message 11-year-old André Johnson has for others suffering from Tibial Hemimelia, a rare disorder in which the person is born without the tibia (the large bone) in the lower part of the leg.

André has definitely been living up to his own advice, as he has not allowed his disorder to stop him from treading the road of success. The Mico Practising Primary and Junoir High School past student has attained a 93.2 average in the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) and will attend his school of choice, Wolmer's Boy's in September.

When THE STAR spoke with André, he had just returned from summer school and was in high spirits. "I'm happy that I passed for Wolmer's Boys because it is a good school, and I hear they take care of children like me," he said.

André had both his legs amputated at two years old, and has been wearing prosthetic legs ever since. His mother, Nicolette Johnson, concedes that it is extremely costly. "André has to change his prosthetic legs once per year, and although we get them free from Shriners Hospital in Florida, we have to take care of all the travel expenses and all other expenses," she revealed.

Johnson added that André has to wear special shoes and clothes to facilitate his prosthetic legs. "He has to wear extra-wide Adidas and Timberland shoes, and we have to buy three different sets of Khakis a year for him, as the legs tear the pants often," she shared.

André is slated to travel to Florida on August 7 to undergo the annual procedure in which he changes his prosthetic legs.

The high cost associated with Andre's condition prompted his parents, Orville and Nicolette Johnson, to start a foundation called 'Shekinah: A Jamaica Worship Event Foundation'. It is intended to raise funds to assist André, as well as other children in Jamaica who suffer from the same disorder.

The foundation hosted its annual benefit event last Saturday in the form of a Gospel concert at the Trench Town Multipurpose Centre, St Andrew. The concert featured several gospel artistes.

The foundation also has a Victoria Mutual account 400580726 for those interested in helping André and other children in Jamaica with Tibial Hemimelia.

André told THE STAR that he dreams of becoming a Paediatrician so he can help children. His mother believes he will succeed because he is a brilliant child. "I always tell my son, 'Andre, you don't have legs like everybody else, so it is your brain that is going to take you through", she said.