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Britney Anderson was a jovial young woman from Grant's Pen, St Andrew, who hoped to become a lawyer. The 20-year-old started a degree in journalism at The University of the West Indies, Mona and had plans of transitioning into law thereafter.

Sadly, it is a dream that will never materialise. Anderson died last Friday, weeks after falling ill. She was in her first year at university, a feat no other family member had accomplished.

"She was a brilliant girl, jovial, always smiling. She use to say 'Mommy, I'm going to be rich, I'm going to help yuh. Mommy, a me a guh tek care a yuh, just watch and see, I'm gonna make you proud'," a distraught mother, Ramona Bramwell, told THE STAR yesterday.

Bramwell said that her daughter, whose only previous health issue was asthma, fell ill while doing her exams. She began experiencing swelling of her feet, general body weakness and pain. After several doctor visits, Anderson was eventually admitted at the Kingston Public Hospital where she remained for almost three weeks, before she died.

"Right now a feel weak, a feel helpless, mi nuh know how mi a guh duh dis. I never thought that she would die, I know that everybody has to go but not this soon," said Bramwell.

The grieving mother could not hold back the tears as she recalled the joy she felt holding her daughter for the first time at 18 years old. She said that she did all she could to provide for her, including selling in downtown Kingston until she was able to get a better job. She is gutted by the fact that her daughter worked hard to achieve her dreams that will not be realised.

An understanding child

"Britney is such an understanding child. Even when I didn't have it, she walk and guh school same way. Britney would save her lunch and say, 'Mommy, I saved the money so you could cook'. That was my baby, that was my baby girl. She would tell mi, 'Mommy, when mi start work we a guh duh dis and we a guh duh dat'. We a guh fix up di house. She always think 'bout har family and she had such big dreams, and she just neva mek it. After all her hard work, mi baby neva mek it, she just gone. Mi baby jus gone," Bramwell cried.

Britney was also the eldest of five children. Her friends also described her as an amazing person whose fun personality earned her the name 'Smile Orange'. One of her closest friends, Anisheka Crosdale, told THE STAR that she is finding it extremely difficult because Britney was a genuine friend who was always there for others.

"I feel like I'm going crazy. I visited her the Friday before she died and right now I am still in shock. Although she was in pain, she tried her best to be strong. Even in her pain she was laughing and trying to comfort me, even though she was sick," said Crosdale.