St Andrew father trains with walker to join daughter's Holy Childhood graduation

Michael Robinson has looked forward to this Sunday for a long time. His eldest daughter, Areke, will graduate from Holy Childhood High School, and he says he could not be happier.

Since the school set the date, the father—who uses a wheelchair because of a long-standing injury—has stepped up his exercise routine. He hopes that, with a walker, he can stand beside Areke as she marks the occasion.

“I have used the walker before, but using it can be painful at times because some of the nerves in my body are damaged, so it can be painful and gives off a shocking feeling. But I am willing to endure that. This is a special day for my little girl and I know she would want this as well,” he said.

Nearly 17 years have passed since Robinson was struck in the back during a clash between two men in his Olympic Gardens, St Andrew, neighbourhood. The attack left him unable to walk. Areke was only three months old.

Robinson said his two daughters helped him stay steady through a period of deep depression. Now, he said, pride and gratitude fill him.

“This is a feeling that I can’t even explain how I feel, but it brings a real joy to me to know that I am here same way. God did this because I didn’t have to be here based on my circumstances. Graduation is one of the milestones that every parent looks forward to and I am going to experience this. Mi get shot up and mi never must deh here, enuh, but God allow this to happen and mi just can’t wait for Sunday to come,” Robinson said.

He acknowledged that supporting his children after the shooting was difficult, but he never stopped pushing for their future.

“Areke held her head high and did really well in school. She sat nine subjects in CXC and her average is always very good,” he added.

Robinson now works as a merchandiser, though he said most of his income comes from TikTok, where he has thousands of followers. He thanked online supporters who helped cover Areke’s graduation costs.

“Her graduation package was $40,000 and my TikTok family help me out with that and I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart. I ensure that I did this for her because my daughter really deserves this. She would stay up really late at nights to study and she is a really good child,” he said.