Security guard Fabian Letman shows his scars. - Noel Thompson/Freelance Photographer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Three years ago, Fabian Letman was involved in a freak accident which left him scarred for life.

Imagine having to live on medication, at least three times per day, seven days a week, for a minimum of seven years.

That's exactly the situation for Letman, a security guard at the all-girl Hampton School in Malvern, St Elizabeth.

"It was shortly after Hurricane Ivan had blown and we had to improvise in storing things, so a room designated for the purpose of storing chemicals was being utilised," he told The Gleaner. "I was leaving the room when I fell on a bottle of caustic soda."

He sustained severe burns to the left side of his back, which also penetrated to the right side of his chest.

His doctor has since told him that the injuries could become cancerous and he would have to remain on medication for seven years. The worst-case scenario is that he might have to be medicated the rest of his life, Letman said.

Lighter duties

Having recuperated somewhat, Hampton School has retained his services, but has given him lighter duties.

Every day is agonising, Letman said, and he recalls the pain when he first sustained the burns, as well as during the period leading up to multi-stage treatment.

"It started burning very deep immediately on the inside and took about two weeks before my skin started peeling off. It was so embarrassing for me because I had to contend with the flies milling around and I had severe difficulty flexing my arms to frequently ward them away. It was just devastating," Letman stated.

Father to one child, the 28-year-old still pays monthly visits to doctors between Mandeville and Kingston. He made three visits in November. Hampton High has been underwriting his medical expenses so far.

"It was really demoralising, contending with the flies. It is something that eats out your nerves. About a quarter of my nerve cells are dead," he explains. "Every day I wake up I give God thanks that I'm alive," he said.

Life for Letman, a Christian, comes with other challenges, which make it more difficult for him to fulfil his dreams.

"My illness restricts me from working as I would love to and thereby having a significant negative impact on my financial independence," he explained.

"The whole situation affects my life in every aspect you can think of but I'm trying to be strong and remain positive."