NOT long after being born without fingers, John Ramsay was abandoned by his mother, who was 14 years old.

Despite the emotional scars from not growing up with his biological family and constantly being teased by his peers because of his disability, he remained focused and is now the proud owner of D.R Photo and Graphics.

“I am a graphic artist with about 14 years of experience. I run my own business… I have been working on my own for two years.

“I have no fingers because I was born without fingers. I was raised amongst a lot of brothers and sisters, aunties and uncles, so it was like a normal home,” the 43-year-old told the Jamaica Observer last Tuesday.

“On the road, I would more feel like an alien because you have people who would make fun of me. At the same time, I never made that get me down,” said Ramsay. “When I check it out, I was more advanced than some of the normal people. At school, I was one of the first people to finish my work and at the same time the other students would more look for assistance from me.”

The many siblings he made reference to are his foster brothers and sisters who made him feel very special; they were part of his defence mechanism at school. However, when they were not around he had to stand up for himself, which sometimes got him into trouble.

“When people made a mockery of me, I would get upset. It was terrible, because the moment you step on the school grounds, kids would make trouble. If none of my brothers or friends were there then the anger I had would come out and I would punch them.

“People were afraid of my hands — they called them nook — but they would give you a heavy thump. I realised I could thump them down and cause trouble, but that wasn’t something I would get up and do every day.

“I was the type of person who did sports like football, track and field, cricket, and baseball… The guys wouldn’t allow me to play basketball. Baseball, people in Jamaica don’t really like it, so when they wanted people to make up the team I would participate in that. I would be the last person to bat. I held the bat with my two hands, but they would have to throw the ball light so I could bat it,” he explained.

After leaving Oberlin High School at 17, Ramsay enrolled in a computer programme at HEART/NSTA Trust where he received valuable advice that made him look towards graphic designing. Over the years, he’s honed his skills and now has his sights set on his business one day being among the top companies for graphic design.

“Fourteen years ago I started graphic designing professionally. As a teenager, I did it as fun. I got a six-month course and somebody showed me a vibes said it would be easier for me to do that for my career, instead of the other traditional stuff. His name is Father Patrick Newman… After the course, he introduced me to Quick Images Limited. From there, he sat me down and showed me that I should try and gain and do my best,” Ramsay recounted.

However, over time, his desire was to earn more.

“Money was my problem, so I decided to go out on my own. When people came and saw the work I was doing, they said I should take the risk. Just to see a young man without fingers doing something that sometimes a person with 10 fingers around a computer wouldn’t finish, people were just amazed to see a man like me doing this,” Ramsay pointed out, adding, “People were very impressed.

He added that being in business is very difficult.

“Things are not the best yet, but I give thanks. I would like to go as far as possible. When people hear about graphics and videography, I want D.R Photo and Graphics Studio to be in the top five in Jamaica. That is how far I want to reach. I would say I have a far way to go, but I believe. If not in the top five, I want to be in the top 10,” he expressed.

He told the Sunday Observer that he is the father of a 12-year-old son. He still doesn’t know any members of his biological family, but he singled out three women who played pivotal roles in his life.

They are retired policewoman Ionie Ramsay, Joan Morrison, and the late Sarah Newland Martin.

“I am originally from the Mountain View area. My mother left me with a friend. The name Ramsay came from the police lady known as Ionie Ramsay, she was the one who took me from the people in Mountain View. She was tasked with following up on my documents and those things, and from there, the system brought me to the Maxfield Park Children’s Home and after that, they brought me to SOS Children’s Village in Stony Hill.

“From a baby who couldn’t walk or talk, they raised me until I was about 20 years old. They guided me through a summer job at the Kingston Young Men’s Christian Association. One of my greatest people is Sarah Newland Martin and Joan Morrison Lewis; I remember her feeding me, bathing me and do everything — one love to Joan Morrison Lewis.”

Raequan Tingling, a 20-year-old university student, currently works for Ramsay. He told the Sunday Observer that his boss has provided him with an opportunity, as someone from the inner-city, to be able to pay his way through his tertiary studies.

“The type of works that he cannot really do, I take those. I really admire him because, even late in the nights and early in the mornings, he is up doing his work when I am still sleeping. He inspires me, and the job he has provided really helps me out because right now I am doing a bachelor’s degree. With the pay I am collecting, that is what is helping me to pay off the institution,” Tingling shared.