My name is René Lambert. I was just born 19 years ago in the Mandeville Hospital, Manchester, Jamaica, not being able to breathe. They thought I would never make it. I was a dead baby in the sight of those around me, including my mother, but a nurse in the hospital felt a slight heartbeat and decided to pump oxygen in my lungs for over an hour. Doctors thought I would be a ‘slow’ baby, but God had other plans for me.

My family is originally from St Elizabeth, Jamaica, but at the age of four I went to live with my eldest of three sisters in Kingston, who was going to The University of the West Indies (UWI) at the time, so I could get to go to school. The school that I started out at was the Step Center, a school that mainly focused on physiotherapy, instead of academic achievements.

Two years later my mom and two other sisters joined us in the city. Despite having cerebral palsy, my mom instilled confidence in me by ensuring that I had everything that I needed as a child who needed special attention. Never once has she ever seen me as less than a human being. So, despite society’s proposal, I always knew I could do anything because of the support of my mom, sisters, teachers, caregivers, and friends.

In 2006, I told my mom that I wanted to go to a regular academic institution, so I was then placed at the Liberty Academy at the Priory, who’s motto I hold dear to my heart, “Free To Achieve God’s Standards”. I was always on top of my classes, even in the normal school setting. I was placed in special education in grades two and three. By the time I was supposed to enter grade four administrators saw that I had the capacity to handle the mainstream education system. I attended Liberty Academy at the Priory Preparatory from grade two up until grade six. I then took the Grade Six Achievement Test and was placed at Holy Childhood High School with an average of 86 per cent. My sister is a graduate of Holy Childhood High. Due to the inconvenient facilities at the school I was transferred to Ardenne High School, where I stayed for one term. I did not like going to school because it was over-crowded, so I got a scholarship from the Government to go back to Liberty Academy. I went to the high school department and excelled until grade 10. This was when I found out that my family was migrating to the United States. This gave me all the more reason to believe that I could achieve anything I set my mind to.

Today, I am a senior at Manchester High School in Connecticut, with a grade point average of 3.76 (honour roll). l am looking forward to graduating in June. In the future, I’d love to pursue a career in psychology and theological studies. If I had not been given a chance at life in that hospital back home in Jamaica I wouldn’t be here today, which is why I absolutely cringe when I hear about abortion.

I am a proud Jamaican and I don’t want to see babies die, because they are our future. We say we fear Yahweh as a country, as stated in our national pledge and anthem. Let us hold true to our covenant. I am disabled, but the values I hold today steadfastly are because I grew up on our beautiful island. I am proud to tell people that I am Jamaican, because of the simple ethics and morals we hold as a country. I would be very saddened to hear that we have legalised abortion — following in the footsteps of the United States.

I am a proud, young Jamaican who desires to see the beauty and blessings of being a nation governed in God’s way. All children need is care and affection. Don’t take an innocent life, because you never know who Yahweh might be sending to impact the earth for His glory. Let’s hold true to our God-given destiny as Jamaicans. A people with hope and resilience.

One love, my family. One love, Jamaica.