AMER LINDO WAS 100 years old on March 27. It is a great achievement for any one to live for a century, but Amer has another distinction other than her 100-year-old milestone. She has been blind for 91 years.

Her relatives told THE WEEK END STAR why that she became blind suddenly at age nine and has been blind since. They also claim that doctors have not been able to determine the reason she lost her sight.

A relative who attended a birthday party held in her honour in Constitution district in St. Andrew a few weeks ago, suggested her blindness might have somehow contributed to her long life, as she might not have lived so long if she had been able to see some of the things that have taken place in her lifetime.

THE WEEKEND STAR was unable to get Amer's opinion on this, or any other aspect of her life, as the small framed centurian was mostly incoherent and focussed on mumbling prayers and snatches of Bible verses and choruses.

However, a number of her relatives attempted to fill in the blanks of what they described as Amer's very full life.

Great mystery

Her great grandneice, 38 year-old Arlene Thompson disclosed that Amer grew up in Constitution Hill and attended the elementary school in that area until at age nine when she became blind. Ninety-one years after her malady struck, there is still a great mystery surrounding the loss of her sight.

Arlene said she was told that Amer woke up one night complaining of cramps in her feet. She was taken to the doctor and the sensation returned to her feet but she promptly became blind. All her relatives who were questioned about the cause for her blindness simply said they felt that because the knowledge of doctors in those days was limited, there was nothing that could be done in order for her to regain her sight.

Arlene said that her great-grand aunt had one son who died in 2002 and he did not father any children. She said that despite her blindness, she could tell by feeling if her clothes were ironed well and refused to wear any garment unless it was pressed properly.

"What amazes me most is the fact that she also used to sew her flannel undershirts on a sewing machine and she would stitch very straight," Arlene said.

She said that Amer, who is also called Aunt Nenen, taught her to wash and cook.

She said she would also help with chores around the house, but above anything, she could be counted on to shell a large quantity of gungo peas whenever they were reaped.

She said Aunt Nenen was very kind and would always have treats for the children in the family whenever they came home from school.

"She always had a piece a bread in a bag hang up behind her door and no matter how many times we get piece off it, it never seemed to finish," Arlene marvelled.

Amer is cared for by her nephew, 79-year-old Joseph Morgan and his wife, 80-year-old Gwendolyn Morgan, whom she has lived with since 1988. Before that she lived with her sister, 83-year-old Grace Headad, who took care of her for 25 years.