- Marlene McPherson photograph
Sandra showing off her outfit.
Marlene McPherson, Outlook Writer
ALTHOUGH PHYSICALLY challenged, Sandra Foxton is not a victim of her disability. She socialises, is self-employed and is a capable homemaker.
For 39 years, she has been sewing for different clients, all types of interesting designs, including bridal wear. This career path of hers started in 1964 when she was 18 years old. Sandra believes that she has inherited the gift of sewing from her mother, who was a good dressmaker and an industrious woman (both parents predeceased her).
Lately, though, her significantly reduced clientele which she has linked to migration among other factors, has impacted on her negatively.
"Sewing alone can't help me. I get the money little, little at different times," she said.
That, probably, pales in comparison to what she has been through all her life. She was born with a disability which included hearing and speech impairment, forcing her to do a lot of lip reading to communicate effectively. A couple of surgeries, including one to the back, never corrected her other problems which rendered her unable to walk. She used to crawl around on her hands and knees.
"When you look on mi hands and knees them corn up and have heavy sores," explained Sandra.
It wasn't until she was age 17 that she received a caliper which allowed her to move around in an upright position.
Sandra is also hearing impaired but communicates effectively by lip-reading.
Today, with the aid of the caliper, Sandra gets around. But only just. The caliper is old, slips off at times and she has had many falls as a result..
The accompanying stick to help with movement, which she had been using for the past 40 years, is also useless.
"I cannot use the stick because it needs to be changed. I have it from 1963, it slides me and I don't have the money to fix it," she lamented.
The survivor she is, she continues her sewing, however meagre now (only six regular customers).
But Outlook inspected a few of the garments that she displayed and found them to be just perfect. Two of her clients gave her the thumbs up for good work, and as if to further convince us of her worth Sandra modelled one of her own party outfits.
Sandra, despite her limitations, has devised an innovative means of taking measurements and recording her clients' measurements.Latoya Henry, a customer, was used to demonstrate how this novel approach was done. Latoya had ordered a jacket suit and a bootleg pants.
Measurement technique
After taking information on the kind of style required, Sandra puts pen to paper and begins to sketch. She consults with the client to ensure that she got it right. She then takes the measurements. And here she has to be creative because of her disability. She sits on her bed, usually at an angle as she cannot sit upright without support. She takes the measurement from waist down. She then asks the client to kneel and then takes the blouse measurement.
As she measures, she records the figures on the appropriate section of the sketch.
She dates the page in her book where the measurement is recorded.The client is asked to look at the chosen style again.And she is on her way.Sandra cuts the fabric without the aid of patterns. When sewing, she uses one hand to guide the fabric and the other hand to press the motor.
This courageous 57-year-old woman does not allow her problems to get in the way of what she has to do. She is also not ashamed to go places in her wheelchair. For example, being hypertensive, she has to make regular visits to the clinic and these appointment are always kept. Also, she frequently worships at St. Francis of Assisi, the Roman Catholic church and visits her many friends.
Her chirpy personality is contagious and this explains her popularity. One of her friends described her as jovial, outgoing and compassionate.
Sandra is kept busy doing her own household chores.
"Life nuh easy," she said upon reflection.
She lived a long time by herself in the Chovey Housing Scheme in Port Morant, St. Thomas, where she is popularly known as Cilla or Icila.
Her only sister, Norma Stephenson, has now become a part of her household, but this has not stifled Sandra's independent spirit as the eldest of three children.
