IT is said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but for Paula Gayle, a picture will tell of the distress that she has faced in recent times.

Gayle, who was once called ‘Fatty’, is now slender, not because she has been exercising or dieting, but according to her, it is because of the many problems that she has been facing in recent times.

When Paula Gayle told her story to the Jamaica Observer in April of this year, she thought that things could not have got any worse.

“Since the last time you (Jamaica Observer) take my picture mi lose about 20 pounds,” she said when the Sunday Observer visited her home recently.

In a story carried by this newspaper on April 27, 2014, Gayle claimed that a series of incidents started in her life after she made a report to the police about a prominent community person. After making the report, Gayle said that her life was made miserable by the police, along with several other persons.

She said that reports were made to various organisations, but little or nothing has been done in most cases to address her problems. That was when she turned to the Jamaica Observer again. Many condemned what she faced, while several others even offered to help in whatever way that they could. However, that lasted only for a short while and Gayle is again facing desperate times. She said that several organisations have said that they were investigating her plight; however, she needs immediate assistance.

The visually impaired Gayle’s latest plea for help comes after she was served notice while in hospital with a broken leg, to vacate the property that she has called home for over 20 years.

On August 1, Gayle, who lost her vision due to other illnesses, among them high blood pressure, fell and broke her leg while carrying water from a community pipe to her home.

“Mi have to walk go to the pipe,” she said. A drum she had at her house was stolen and she has been unable to get water from a tank at home because a ladder that she used to access the tank was also stolen.

“Mi drop off the driveway and break mi left ankle,” she told the Sunday Observer.

She has since been summoned to court and was set to make her first appearance on September 3, but was unable to and got another court date for October 15.

“While in the hospital mi call the Poor Relief officer and tell her mi foot broke. She say all right, she coming to look for me,” Gayle said.

Gayle stated that she was happy when the poor relief officer told her that because her ankle would need pinning and the cost would have been $14,750.

“Mi was glad because mi need the help to pin mi foot,” she explained.

However, Gayle said that when the officer came she was in for a rude awakening.

“When she come she tell mi that mi have guests and dem (two police officers) serve mi notice,” she said.

“The pinning cost $14,750 which I cannot afford. The poor relief officer come to the hospital on the 8th with two police officers and in the hospital serve mi summons to go to court on the third of September to deliver the house I am living in,” she stated.

The distraught woman said immediately after the notice was served she was told that the Poor Relief Department would not be able to assist her with getting a home as was promised previously because she was placed on PATH (Programme for Advancement through Health and Education).

“Immediately, the poor relief lady tell mi dem tek mi off the programme so dem can’t go find anywhere fi mi live again,” Gayle said.

Gayle, who currently lives in a seven-room house, said the Poor Relief had said that, she would have received only one room and so she would have to sell her furniture.

Gayle admitted that she had initially objected to this. She, however, said that subsequently she considered asking someone to keep the furniture for her. However, the option is no longer available because she is now on PATH.

“Mi tell dem mi nuh want no one room. Mi would work with two. Dem come tell me dem want mi fish tank fi buy so mi fi sell mi things dem and keep what can hold in one room,” she stated.

It was a big shock for her when she received notice to vacate the property and was given a date to attend court.

According to her, family members are now being advised to place her in an infirmary. However, the former clothes vendor will have none of it.

“Look how hard mi work fi mi things and dem want put mi in a poorhouse,” lamented Gayle.

Gayle said that during her brighter years, she operated a bar and a salon, before selling clothes from her car. However, the comfortable lifestyle she had disappeared because she thought she was doing the right thing.

“Mi did think a good mi a do,” she said, recalling that her life started on a downward spiral after she made a report to the police about some illegal activities that she knew about. The woman said she later made a report against a police officer after she was abused in her home and things got worse for her. She was forced to give up her livelihood and has since been suffering.

“Dem mash up mi life, dem mash up mi life,” wailed Gayle who in happier times travelled overseas to buy and sell.

Gayle vowed that she will not go to the infirmary, and prefers to die if that is the case.

“A bashment dem use to call me,” Gayle said. “Mi nah go a no poor house; mi nah go a no home. Dem mash up mi life and mi no criminal; mi no commit no crime,” she moaned.

She explained that if she was left alone following the reports made, she would not have been in the position that she finds herself in today.

“I could still sell, but dem tell mi to stay a mi yard and dem no put mi inna witness protection but mi must stay a mi yard,” Gayle went on.

Gayle said she has no problem leaving the house but she needs somewhere to go.

“Mi family not in a position to help… you know if somebody give you a dollar today, tomorrow you nah go get it,” she said.

She explained that she now barely survives off her NIS pension cheque of $2,800 monthly. She received her first payment through PATH recently, but was told that she cannot continue to receive it because she is on the NIS.

“Mi nah go kotch a nobody place, mi too old fi dat,” she said.

Gayle said that the prospect of losing the place she has called her home has not been the only challenge she has faced in recent times. According to the woman, breaking her leg resulted in her having to fight for her rights at the Percy Junior Hospital in Spaulding, Clarendon. Apart from waiting for three hours before she was taken to the hospital after the fall, Gayle said she was discharged from the hospital without anything done to her leg.

“Mi decide mi naa come out of the hospital until dem do something about it.”

She said that she did not have the money to travel to and from the St Ann’s Bay Hospital and so she refused to leave until her leg was fixed as she could not afford the cost of the pin.

“Doctor go tell me mi must go home wid mi foot wa nothing no do to and go home and charter vehicle to go St Ann’s Bay Hospital,” she said.

“Mi have to beg dem to put the cast on it and dem say it still want pin,” she added.

It was after the casts were placed on her foot that she left the hospital.

“Sometimes mi a call the nurse all 30 minutes before dem come to me,” she said of her hospital experience.

Additionally, Gayle said that there is a group of youngsters who continue to make life miserable for her.

“Dem end up all in the hospital. Dem terrorise me,” she stated.

Gayle is seeking assistance from local and international human rights organisations. Financial assistance too is being sought and anyone wishing to make a contribution may do so through any of the following bank accounts: Scotiabank Christiana 425 792 and National Commercial Bank 854 008 749.