HIS STYLE
Timecka James
Meet Kennick Wheeler from Kingston 12. A vibrant man in the prime of his youth, living his best life as a young person should. Hardworking, professional, and a great team player who derives genuine pleasure from making the lives of others easier by helping beyond what one would require or even thought one needed.
Kennick was a popular guy in his community and was that guy who was effortlessly there for everyone. He enjoyed this same popularity in his capacity in his former post as a New Business Processor at Guardian Life’s head office in New Kingston. Being this popular was no easy feat, but Kennick Wheeler handled it effortlessly. He enjoyed hanging with peers regularly, although he is a responsible father of one son whom he adores and with whom has an amazing bond.
All this was no insulation for the tragedy that struck Kennick in November 2019. It was a regular evening after work when he had stopped in the Half Way Tree area to hang with a childhood friend. His friend had a companion whom he had to take home and, given it was en route to his home, Kennick decided to hitch a ride. The companion was dropped off and the pair continued on their way.
Upon reaching the Mandela Highway near the Portmore intersection, the friend lost control of the car as he swerved to avoid clipping another vehicle, and ran straight into a tree, at high speed. Kennick blocked out for about 10 seconds. Upon regaining consciousness, he saw his friend crawling through the window and he encouraged Kennick to do the same. Kennick managed to open a door to escape the wreck but found he couldn’t move his legs and was instantly distressed. They were assisted by a passer-by who managed to get him out and laid him flat on the ground, to await medical assistance.
He was taken to the Spanish Town Hospital. Kennick’s nightmare began as he was not seen by a doctor for the entire night and was rushed to the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) to undergo an emergency surgery. Meanwhile his friend was treated for a minor cut on the leg and released. Kennick was left to deal with recovering physically and mentally from this ordeal and deal with what he felt was a betrayal from someone so close to him to be considered family.
Stay tuned to see how this exuberant and extraordinary young man has adjusted to his new reality. Will he walk again? And, how is he feeling about the unsureness of his future?
