NASSAU, The Bahamas — Less than 24 hours after Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie mandated Police Commanders of the Urban Renewal Project Offices to “seek out” persons living with disabilities in the various Urban Renewal Communities – especially children — and pay closer attention to their needs, the Centreville Urban Renewal Project Office has responded.

Police Officials at the Centre, led by Royal Bahamas Police Force Inspector Ricardo Richardson, have joined forces with the Centre’s Advisory Committee to seek assistance for four-year-old Trinity Turnquest, who was born with Arthrogryphosis - a rare congenital disease that affects 1 in 3,000 births according to medical statistics.

Also known as arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC), arthrogryphosis is characterised by multiple joint contractures and can include muscle weakness and fibrosis. There are many known subgroups of AMC, with differing signs, symptoms, causes , etc.

In some cases, few joints may be affected and may have a nearly full range of motion. In the most common type of arthrogryposis, called amyoplasia, hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, hips, feet and knees are affected. In the most severe types, nearly every joint is involved, including the jaw and back.

Trinity experiences contractions in her knees which reduce her mobility insofar as walking is concerned

“Just last night (Thursday, October 4) we had a graduation for persons who participated in our 2012 Computer Class and during the graduation, Prime Minister Christie challenged us to go into the communities and find out who are the children/who are the persons living in those communities with disabilities,” Inspector Richardson said.

“We came across little Trinity during a walk-a-bout and so we are very happy to see how best we can assist her and her mother. It is our belief that, once we get her the proper assistance she needs, she can live as normal a life as possible insofar as improving her mobility is concerned,” Inspector Richardson added.

Little Trinity, who was born on March 30, 2008, is the daughter of Miss Doniesha Turnquest, a 21-year-old single mother of Toote Shop Corner off East Street.

Miss Turnquest said her daughter is an intelligent, beautiful and respectful little girl who is full of life despite her disability.

“She loves going to Pre-School; being with her friends, spending time with her teachers,” Miss Turnquest said. “The only thing she cannot do stand up on her own, (but) she can hold onto objects to move, she crawls, she climbs, she is very strong in her arms.

“The way she has to move on the floor from one place to another, however, is unhygienic, particularly when she goes outside. We tried mittens, but she does not like to keep them on and so we try to keep her inside as much as possible. When she is outside, she uses a wheelchair but the braces will be a better form to help her walk.

“She was born with the disorder and the doctor said there was nothing that caused it and nothing that could have been done to prevent it and so its just a situation we have to deal with.”

Miss Turnquest said she has held numerous discussions with doctors regarding her daughter’s medical condition. She said those discussions have included the possibility of surgery — although surgery will be the final resort.

“Right now Trinity needs braces to help her walk,” Miss Turnquest said. “Also she would need a spine test for them to see if they need to do any work with her spine before working on her feet in order to release her muscles in order for her to bend her knees and walk properly.

“The surgery itself is a risk because the doctors cannot guarantee if the condition will not return post surgery. That’s the last resort,” Miss Turnquest added.

Miss Turnquest said braces for little Trinity will cost in the vicinity of $1200 while the tests will cost another $3500.

“I don’t have the money to do it,” she said. “Trinity is an only child ... I would just like to ask public for their financial help with Trinity because she is very intelligent; she loves school; she is full of life and also because it will help her situation; it will help her to be more comfortable and be able to get through life.

“I juts want for her, what any caring parent would want for their child — an opportunity for their child to live as normal a life as possible,” Miss Turnquest added.