A joy that is shared is a joy made double and for the last 42 years, twin sisters Ria and Tricia Riley have had a connection unlike any other.
Close to the heart from the start, they were also never far apart when it came to the usual mischiefs made by twins.
“We used to cause trouble in school, we used to switch classes, I take her bag and go in her class and vice versa until a day my mother find out and real give us licks, they had to comb our hair differently to send us to school after that,” they recalled
Ria and Tricia have had an inseparable journey, sharing in each other’s happiness and sorrow along the way.
Speaking to Guardian Media at their Valencia home yesterday, the identical twins explained that recent medical misfortunes have left them both in similar pain and discomfort.
According to Ria, things took a turn for the worse after a cardiac arrest left her struggling. Despite that setback, she endeavoured up until an accident in 2019.
“Hot oil fell on my leg, first I ended up losing two toes, then eventually I lost my right leg.”
Consumed by emotions, she said the amputation has taken a toll on her in more ways than one.
“I not wishing this for anybody, my foot was my bread and butter, I really wouldn’t want nobody to have to go through this. There are times I fall down and have to remain there. Just the other day I fall down outside and have to wait for someone to help me.”
Less than six months after Ria’s amputation, Tricia also found herself in an identical situation.
Tricia said, “I had gotten a cut under my left foot but I’m diabetic, so I wasn’t feeling anything. It started to worsen and I ended up in hospital. I say if they have to take it to save my life I say go ahead, at first it was very emotional. When you think about it, you could have done everything, now you have to sit down and wait for help when you cannot do it and we were never like that.”
The sisters, both of whom were employed up until their amputations, now receive a disability grant, barely enough, they say, to cover bills and medical expenses.
For them, the only end to their struggles is being fitted with prosthetics. But hope has faded as their applications three years ago to the Social Welfare Division have seemingly stalled.
Tricia explained, “They call once, they never call back after that. We went in once or twice and they keep saying they will call, they never call up to early this year. She went back twice, nothing, when you call you just hear the phone ringing and nothing at all.”
Guardian Media reached out to Minister of Social Development and Family Services Donna Cox. The minister said she will look into the sisters’ report.
The cost to acquire the prosthetics is an estimated $40,000 for each sister. Anyone wishing to assist Ria and Tricia can contact them at 358-0575.
