It was an ordinary day in March 2024 for Brenda Scott, who was living in the Cayman Islands, when her world was suddenly turned upside down.
Going about her usual routine – rising early, reading her Bible, preparing breakfast and later making dinner – Scott recalled beginning to feel unusually hot. She attributed the discomfort to the intense Cayman heat and switched on the ceiling fan in the kitchen.
However, the feeling persisted, prompting her to retreat to her bedroom, where she turned on the air conditioner in an attempt to cool down.
When she still experienced no relief, she decided to call her son to take her to the hospital.
“I was still upbeat as we drove to the hospital. I chatted with my son and walked by myself into the facility,” she shared with Freedom Come Rain Newspaper.
A blood pressure check revealed that her pressure was elevated, and she was instructed to wait to see a doctor.
Then everything changed.
As she walked towards the physician, she suddenly became dizzy. She called out to him and remembered hearing hospital staff urgently requesting a wheelchair.
“I told him I was feeling dizzy and weak on my left side,” she recalled, adding that she did not realise she was experiencing the onset of a stroke. She was later told that she had slipped into a coma.
“For days, I had no recollection of what was happening, but I do remember hearing the voices of relatives and friends who came to visit. I could hear them, but I couldn’t respond.”
One particular story stands out for Scott from her hospital experience. She recalled that her daughter-in-law had gone to purchase fruit after hearing Brenda ask for some. While at the supermarket, a woman she had never met approached her.
According to Scott’s daughter-in-law, the stranger somehow knew that her mother-in-law was ill in hospital and offered words of reassurance.
“Your mother-in-law is going to be okay,” she reportedly said. She then instructed her to return to the hospital, touch Scott’s left leg and repeat three times: “It is well. It is well. It is well.”
When her daughter-in-law turned around to look for the woman, she was nowhere to be found. To this day, the family has never been able to identify her.
Nevertheless, the instruction was carried out, further strengthening the family’s faith and hope for divine intervention.
For Scott and her loved ones, the encounter became another reminder that even in the darkest moments, hope can arrive unexpectedly.
The road back to recovery has been anything but easy.
After spending months in hospital, Scott returned to Jamaica on April 10, where she continued her treatment and rehabilitation. She spent time at a facility specialising in stroke recovery and later underwent physiotherapy.
The stroke affected the left side of her body, significantly impacting her mobility and the use of her left hand.
Before the stroke, she walked normally and enjoyed an independent lifestyle. Today, she continues to fight to regain that independence.
One of her major challenges has been the lasting damage to her left hand, which was not fitted with a brace during the early stages of her treatment. Doctors have since recommended surgery to improve movement in her fingers and wrist, enabling her to participate more effectively in therapy and work towards regaining function.
Financial constraints have forced Scott to delay certain aspects of her rehabilitation, but she remains steadfast in her belief that God will make a way.
“I am looking forward to a full recovery,” she said with unwavering faith.
What has sustained her through the difficult days is an unwavering support system. Her family has stood beside her every step of the way, while members of her church have consistently checked on her, prayed with her and provided transportation when necessary. Her pastor and his wife also make regular arrangements to ensure she can attend worship services.
“They don’t leave me alone,” she said gratefully.
Born and raised in St. Elizabeth, Scott’s roots run deep in her community. The love and support she has received have served as a constant reminder that she is not facing her challenges alone.
Despite enduring a stroke, a coma and a lengthy recovery process, she refuses to dwell on what she has lost.
Instead, she chooses to focus on what she has gained.
“I could have been six feet under,” she said. “God gave me a second chance at life.”
That perspective even surprised a psychiatrist who met her during her rehabilitation.
After asking whether she had become depressed following the stroke, Scott’s response was immediate.
“No,” she told him. “Why should I be depressed? God gave me a second chance.”
The doctor later remarked that if more patients shared her outlook, he would be a happy man.
For Scott, gratitude outweighs frustration. Her testimony is not that life has been easy but that her faith has remained steadfast through every setback.
Today, Brenda Scott’s journey continues, with recovery still very much a work in progress.
However, she is appealing to the public for assistance as she seeks to overcome some of the challenges standing between her and greater independence.
She needs to undergo surgery costing $872,000, which is expected to help improve her mobility and enable her to regain greater use of her hand. She also requires financial assistance to continue physiotherapy sessions, which cost $8,000 each.
Making an appeal for support, Scott acknowledged the love and commitment of her family but emphasised her desire to regain her independence.
“I know my family love and support me, but there is nothing like your own independence. I am going to need destiny helpers to power me on the road to full recovery,” she appealed.
And for others facing difficult circumstances, Scott has one piece of advice:
“Have faith. God doesn’t leave us. Sometimes we go through things to see how strong we are and how strong our faith is.”