When Jason Green lost his left leg and part of his right leg in a freak lawn-mower accident at the age of nine, he was angry with the world and with God. Today, that anger has turned into philanthropic work, where he is doing all he can within his power to help amputees like himself, here in Barbados.
Born in Kingston, New York, in the United States and raised in Milton, New York, Jason, the first child of six that his parents adopted and one of their 11 children, is fighting to make life easier for people who have lost part of their bodies in some way or the other.
Sitting down with Easy, as he shared his journey, Jason recalled how at nine years old, he was driving the family’s lawn-mower, and ended up pinned down and chopped up by the “heavy duty equipment.” His mother’s faith in God helped tremendously and today Jason can see how her prophetic words of encouragement came to pass.
“Yes, I was angry with the world. I recalled that I asked my mother, “Why did God allow this to happen to me?” She told me she was asking God the same question and that one day it will become clear to me. She told me I would touch many lives with my story.
“My parents raised me within a structure where you went to church, said prayers before eating and gave God thanks for life. During my dark days, sometimes I strayed and it was tough. I would lash out sometimes because I just wanted to be left alone.
“I had to learn how to turn my negatives into positives. I knew that I was on a different pathway, especially after spending three months in the hospital and several months in rehabilitation and healing. I had to learn how to walk again – this time with a prosthesis.
“Change for me came gradually. I realised I had to give to others and provide for others.”
Having lost his left foot and some of the toes on his right foot during the accident some 46 years ago, Jason understands the plight and challenges of those waiting to be outfitted with a prosthesis (an artificial body part). He believes and understands that his life is filled with purpose due to the incident, even though he did not become the preacher his parents wanted him to become.
“Growing up my parents wanted me to become a preacher, because I was very charismatic. Technically now, I am preaching – preaching to others about how to live better lives, even with their physical challenges.
“I come to Barbados to help everybody I can help. I am willing to work with everybody who can work with me. Our time is now,” he stressed.
Jason’s interest in local amputees was piqued when he visited the island three years ago for the first time, with his Montreal-based girlfriend, Sue. Barbados was where her father often took her. When he died, the couple decided to visit the island in his honour.
Helping for Jason includes developing programmes to assist amputees with transportation and where possible, with affordable prostheses. Generally, he wants to make life easier for them to move around.
“I am not the average person. I think and live outside the box. I see and feel things people cannot see and feel. This has kept me on a different path. That path has led me to Barbados. You can say I got here through life’s trials and errors.”
Jason is outfitted with a prosthesis “which is different from a normal prosthesis.”
“It is like a cross between a walker and a runner. It is a level four-foot, called the Renegade by Freedom Innovations. On my first trip to the island, people would ask me questions about my leg. They said they could not get my type of prosthesis on the island. I started doing research and found that Barbados was being labelled the amputation capital of the world.
“It was then that a light went off in my head. I thought to myself that I should be able to help out. I knew the prosthetic limbs were very expensive, so I figured out how to get cheaper prosthesis. I also developed a programme on how to help amputees get around, many of whom I felt were trapped in their homes.”
The forward-thinking Jason reached out to the National Disabilities Unit and was invited to discussions to see how his willingness to assist could impact lives, especially the lives of those with mobile challenges.
He came up with a number of initiatives.
Among them was a project where “able bodied” amputees were encouraged to make boxes, place things Barbadiana into those boxes, and sell them in the tourism industry, under the brand – “Made by Amputees in Barbados.”
“This project aims to put money back in the hands of amputees to enrich their lives and those in the community,” he pointed out.
Another project is one he is working on in collaboration with the Rehabilitating Enabling Society for Amputees (RESA). To this end, Jason wants to see his Ride-Share Voucher Programme in place for all amputees.
“This is a programme I have also developed. Its goal is to provide a government-funded transportation option for disabled individuals in wheelchairs. It will involve Government and two selective van-lift taxi companies which are yet to be identified. The programme will be in effect two days a week, during which time those with disabilities will be guaranteed round-trip transportation.”
According to Jason, various special conditions will apply for such people, including having to undergo a screening process.
“This transportation issue is a top priority of many organisations in Barbados. It is important that we get it fixed as soon as possible. Persons in wheelchairs need to get around and become productive members of the society. Many just sit around at home and waste their God given talents. That is so sad! Something needs to be done as soon as possible”, Jason lamented.
“I came up with this programme to help them live their lives as they deserve to live their lives – like other human beings.”
“This Ride-Share Voucher Programme is the beginning of a movement. It is essentially a programme aimed at getting amputees out of their homes, thereby reducing their feelings of depression and isolation. I want to stop them from living with such emotions. My heart goes out to help them. Too many are being hurt and are kept waiting. That’s all they do is wait. I want to see a change now,” Jason reiterated.
During his current six-week “mission trip”, Jason has vowed to continue to fight for the rights of amputees and to make their lives so much better. (CH)
