DINTHILL Technical High School past student Patricia Hall still manages to flash a bright smile, despite being paralysed from the neck down.

That winning smile was flashed even brighter yesterday when she was paid a visit at her Linstead, St Catherine home by Dinthill principal Lloyd Fearon, members of the school alumni, staff and students

The group was on hand to hand over money donated by students of the institution to assist in her care to her mother Pauline Henry, who is her sole caregiver.

Hall was the victim of a car crash in Riversdale, St Catherine seven years ago while she was a student at Dinthill.

According to Henry, Patricia, herself and two of Patricia’s siblings were returning from a wake when the vehicle in which they were travelling ran off the road. “All of us were injured but she got the worst of it and has been paralysed from the neck down since then. It has been very hard but sometimes when I see her smile I take comfort. She had a promising future,” Henry told the Jamaica Observer.

Hall, who was 17 years old at the time of the accident, suffered severe damage to her spinal cord, which resulted in her paralysis.

The money was collected from the school population to assist Henry to care for her child.

The Dinthill family has been supportive of Hall since the mishap and members of the Florida chapter of the Dinthill Alumni, had assisted by purchasing a freezer and ice cream products to allow her mother to earn money to purchase items needed to make her life a little bit more comfortable.

Fearon was happy that the students, staff and past students were able to assist the family.

“This is the kind of gesture that makes life worth living. After Hurricane Sandy, because of the power cut all her ice cream products spoiled so we approached the students to make contributions and they came up with $24,000 so they could buy back the products and resume business,” he said.

Henry was very grateful for the kind gesture.

“I am going to put away some for Pat, then I will buy some more ice cream and bag juice because that it what I sell to take care of her,” she said.

The New York Chapter of the Dinthill Alumni has also supported Hall with donations, including food supplies, over the years.