Man evades death twice after violent attacks
After two attacks on his life, the first of which left him requiring 337 stitches, 40-yearold Roger Foreman says he is on a mission to win souls for God.
“Men attacked me and chopped me with machetes and knives in one incident, and in another I was shot in the face. The two incidents have left me battling with serious physical and psychological damages,” said Foreman.
In 2007, men who Foreman said were part of a gang, viciously attacked him with various weapons on Market Street in Brown’s Town, St Ann. He sustained 21 serious injuries including a fractured skull. Foreman’s hands have limited movement and he said he still experiences severe pain in his spine. Perpetrators were given sentences ranging from 12 to 15 years by the courts. “After surviving that ordeal, I did break a promise that I made to God after I won the court case on that incident. I promised God that I will make it right with Him,” Foreman said. But Foreman said he did not immediately turn his life over to God, and in 2015, was shot in the face in his own home by a gunman, rumoured to be an associate to one of his previous attackers.
The loud explosions alerted his family who began screaming frantically. The shooter sped off in a waiting motor car. However in 2017, the man who was fingered in that attack, died while fleeing police.
MI SISTER A SAY MI DEAD
“Fi bout 30 minutes mi hear say mi unconscious for. But when mi regain consciousness, me hear mi sister a say mi dead. Same time mi a pray to God fi gi me strength fi move mi body. Di foot weh mi end up moving is the same foot weh did get chop up in 2007 weh doctor say mi cyah go walk again if mi no put iron in it,” he said.
Foreman was rushed to the St Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital, then later transferred to the Kingston Public Hospital.
“Di shot go through mi left side a me face and end up through mi neck. Mash up mi jaw and spinal cord. Di doctors dem almost give up on me,” he said.
They didn’t, and Foreman decided that he would come good on his promise to God. Three years after cheating death for a second time, Foreman got baptised at The Brown’s Town Apostolic Ark Pentecostal Church in April 2018.
Since then, he has dedicated his time ministering to youth in the area with hopes of one day becoming an ordained pastor.
“Only the mercy of God why I am still alive. I just want to tell the youths out there to seek God because that is the only way. I am using my story to show that there is always hope and keep believing in God and I would like to tell the youths to put down the guns,” he said. He even plans to one day reconcile with his attackers via his ministry.
“I plan to make peace with them. I would like to one day get the opportunity to offer them the chance to get to know God,” he said.
Di shot go through mi left side a me face and end up through mi neck. Mash up mi jaw and spinal cord. Di doctors dem almost give up on me.