The sudden death of 18-year-old Roshane Ashman on January 26, 2024 has plunged his relatives, teachers, and peers at Pembroke Hall High School in St Andrew into deep grief as they recalled his immense talent despite his lifelong struggle with health issues.

Since birth, Ashman battled numerous medical problems including a heart condition and scoliosis. He also had been surviving with one kidney.

Ashman was said to have died from a sudden stroke while at home.

His mother, Roshana Davis, said that although she was grieving, she was still proud that her son, even with his disabilities and ailments, graced the Earth with his kindness and wonderful talents, including singing, dancing, and acting.

“His grandmother used to attend Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts. Everything you saw him do, he got it from the family. He was well-loved. He was outspoken. He wasn’t afraid of anything. He did not make his outward appearance bother him or keep him down. He was in all kinds of activity groups. He was in an acting group, came in a movie and he entered the Digicel Rising Stars,” Davis said.

She shared that throughout his entire life her son had constantly battled great discomfort due to his health conditions.

“From him born in 2005, going into 2006 he has been at the Bustamante Hospital for Children. You can just say that he lived at Children’s Hospital for two years. He was born with a left club hand, a bit of scoliosis, one kidney and a heart condition. The heart condition was the main issue. He had to do a heart surgery at University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI). A special doctor came out for him because his case was complicated.

“He did the heart surgery at UHWI in 2006 when he was one-year-old. He also did a surgery on the left club hand when he was one-year-old. The hand part was done at Children’s Hospital. Even when he passed 12, he was still going to Bustamante Children’s Hospital — three clinics. He was seeing two heart doctors and he managed to survive with one kidney. Only God He knows,” Davis said, adding that she had barely arrived at work on the morning of January 26 when she received a phone call relating the news of her son’s passing.

“I left him at home very jovial. I don’t even reach work good yet when I got a missed call from his phone. When I called back, I was told that he was in the house and fell down and wasn’t responding. No taxi or any ride was near. His uncle had to come from a distance to bring him to the Kingston Public Hospital. The doctors told me he died before he got to the hospital,” Davis said.

Audley Searchwell, Pembroke Hall High School’s bandmaster, said Ashman was an integral member of the band and his sudden death has negatively impacted others who sang with him.

“Four girls in the school band missed the two performances we had for Saturday and Sunday. They are in deep grieving, crying all day. I have even been trying to call them from day and one can’t get them. I don’t know what is happening or if they are alright,” he told the Sunday Observer.

“He was very talented. He was a good dancer and singer. He was a prefect and was a vocalist in the school band. From him come in seven grade, he was singing for the band up until the time of his death. He was always involved in school activities — whether it be at graduations, prize giving, general activities,” Searchwell said.

“He was obedient to his teachers and peers alike and he was always willing to help. He was successful in most of his subjects, including music and drama. He was hoping to go to Edna Manley College this year.”