Teen with brittle bone disease finds joy in dancing

When Jahieem Sewell was six years old he fell and broke his leg. His grandmother took him to the doctor, thinking the young boy would regain his mobility after the leg was put in a cast and left to heal. However, the magnitude of what awaited her was nothing she could imagine.

The young boy was diagnosed with brittle bone disease, a condition which causes bones to fracture easily, often with no obvious cause. Sewell, 13, has undergone 13 surgeries on his legs as doctors seek to help him deal with the disease. While there is no curse for brittle bone disease, doctors often employ supportive therapies that help reduce risk of broken bones and increase a person's quality of life. These include the surgery to place rods in the patient's bones

Although dealing with the adversity of losing his ability to walk, Sewell is not one for pity parties. The young teen, despite being a wheelchair user, has an unparalleled love for dancing, using his arms and upper body to great effect. He currently enjoys vibing to Kraff's dancehall banger, Rum Behaviour.

During a visit to his house in Greenwich Town, St Andrew, on Saturday, Sewell showed off his prowess, dropping moves that would earn him the spotlight at entertainment events. When asked which dancer he would want to showcase his skills alongside, Sewell did not hesitate.

"I want to dance with Kaka Highflames," he said.

And, of course, he performed a routine without even hearing music.

"I feel good, and it's something that I need to socialise with other people so they can get to know me and know how I do," Sewell shared. Despite occasional judgement, he remains positive, making friends wherever he goes.

"People love me and I am nice to talk to. Some people judge me, but I don't matter that I just do what I got to do," he told THE STAR.

Isha Bartley, 28, neighbour and friend of Jahieem, was the one who started to encourage him to embrace his talent, she recorded him and posted it on her TikTok page (@kjandisha), . The videos went viral.

Concernedly, however, Sewell has not attended school since September. He said that this is due to his disability.

"I passed for [Norman] Manley [High School] and I couldn't go because they didn't have any ramps, and we were waiting on a call for months. Then they called and said that they're gonna place me at Ardenne Extension High. I did a test and they said that the ministry [of education] is supposed to give them some money to build up a ramp. They said I supposed to come back this year, but I couldn't go cause I don't know why they don't call as yet," he explained.

Janet Moore, Sewell's grandmother and primary guardian, told THE STAR that she is working on additional documentation and getting a proper wheelchair to have him admitted into Ardenne Preparatory and Extension High School. She is hopeful that he will be able to resume his formal education soon.

While taking pride in styling himself to immerse his days in dancing, the reality remains that Sewell cannot enjoy his childhood in the same way others can. His greatest wish is to walk again, and he believes that with God's help, it will become a reality.