Man seeks prosthetic leg after losing limb to infection

Hakim Bond, a St Thomas native who lost the lower half of his left leg to diabetes, said he is imploring others to seek medical attention for the smallest of wounds.

"Never say it is just a scrape, as you never know. Just seek medical attention. Some cuts will heal perfectly but others won't, so just go to even a clinic and check it out," he said.

Bond, a resident of Arcadia in the eastern parish, was born with type one diabetes, and, until 2020, he lived a fairly normal life. He said he was able to make ends meet for his son and himself by working on construction sites. But things went downhill after a nail pierced the sole of his left foot.

"It wasn't deep and I had got cuts in other parts of my body before and they healed. I tried to dress it on my own for a while but it swell up and wouldn't heal. Mi then go to the clinic and then dem refer mi to the hospital, and the doctors say it infected and they cut out a part of my foot bottom," he said.

Bond said the procedure didn't affect his mobility, but instead of retuning to the construction field, he started up a chicken farm. But shortly after he began that venture, Bond's foot got infected.

"Mi pick up an infection in the coop and that was in August 2020. It was so bad that I lost my middle toe. I keep wondering what I was doing wrong because my foot was bandaged. I think the bandage could have stopped infection or germs from going in," he said.

In 2021, Bond developed gangrene, which can rapidly spread. This time, doctors were forced to remove Bond's remaining four toes on the foot.

"They cut off a portion of my instep and I couldn't walk by myself. My friend then got me a surgical boot and the foot was healing well. But one day I ate some ackee but that break out the rest of my foot bottom. Every minute it send me to hospital because it keep on a get infected and mi do that for about four months. It was very painful and uncomfortable. It just wasn't healing," he said.

In May, Bond said he got another major infection and was advised by medical practitioners at the Princess Margaret Hospital that it was best to amputate the remainder of his left leg.

"A that happen, mi lose mi leg right below mi knee on the 29th of May. The wound heal now and I am going to Mona Rehab (Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre) but I am going to need a prosthetic leg to get back on my feet. It cost almost $650,000 but it is difficult for me to find. I am asking for some assistance to purchase it so life can get back normal. This has held me be back a lot because I get a lot of opportunities to go work but I can't because I don't want to pressure it," he said.

"It very very rough because sometimes is mi friend name Junior have to help mi out and some of my cousins. I am really asking anyone who can help to please help because I really want to get back my independence," Bond added.

Anyone wishing to assist Hakim Bond may contact him at 876-284-3816. Donations may also be made to his Jamaica National savings account: # 10937992, Morant Bay branch.