which might have killed less hardy souls.

But for Jason Fostine-DeSilva, who spent three months in a coma after a bike smash, the question is why is Government making my life harder? Last year he found his rent subsidy stopped and his working week at the Aquarium reduced, leaving him with just $277.38 a week to pay for food and rent.

With a high profile mum, Winifrid Fostine-DeSilva, in a well-paid job as Collector of Customs Jason often gets asked why his family doesn't chip in to help him out.

But Jason is intent on independence.

He said: "People know my mum, they say why can't my family help me? They shouldn't have to. They did more than they had to do when I was in hospital.

It cost them well over six figures to pay for my treatment.

"I was on my deathbed for three months. When I was in a coma doctors were saying I wouldn't make it until morning. I was nine months in a hospital in Bermuda and one and a half years in and out of hospital in America having therapy.

"My brother owns Global Construction, but he has his own affairs. I don't pay my family taxes, I pay them to Government.

When life is a battle every day "I am a man, I am 31 years old. I am not going to live with them.

"What's funny is they give me a card saying I am a special person. But what's so special if I have it tougher than everyone else? This Government isn't helping anyone.

Jason works as a cleaner at the Aquarium although he is paid by financial assistance.

"I was asked to submit figures for rent and food -- it was $1,200. They gave that to me and said that was all I was entitled to.

"They said they would not pay for cable. What do they expect me to do? They wanted to give me a disability pension when I was living with my parents -- now I am not they take it away but now I need it even more.

"I was working five days at the Aquarium, but now I am only working four. It changed last year. I make $277.38 a week and have to pay $200 straight into the bank for rent which is $800 a month. That leaves me with $77.38 -- you can't live on that. I have to pay bills.'' But Jason says good quality food and medication are vital to combat the muscle-wasting which is caused by his illness.

So, too, is a gruelling physical regime including two-and-a-half hour sessions in the gym and cycling around four miles from the ferry stop to work.

For Jason it's a case of running just to stand still.

"I am 31 years old but it seems like I walk like I am 65. I have to do a lot of therapy to alleviate the spasicity. Then I work with the weights -- I have to do extra or my muscles would atrophy.'' But even his bike rides are affected by his lack of cash. "My bike has broken gears but I don't have the money to fix them.

"They change as I go up hills. It's irritating and I can fall off. I am sure there are people on this island who have seen me sprawled on the road.'' For a man who doctors said would never walk again Jason's activity marks a personal triumph, but not without its tensions.

"I can't do the things a toddler can do -- of course, that can get you livid.'' And Jason's rage can sometimes lead to fallouts with those around him. "People don't understand what I have to go through. People call me a cripple or hop-along. I turned a tragedy into a triumph but people want to make fun of me. I don't have a girlfriend but people are more interested in my sex life than I am and always getting on at me. In my last job they pushed me too far.'' Jason's slow, slurred speech is a constant reminder that things will never be the same after the night he was thrown from a bike driven by a drunken pal and he went headfirst into a taxi. "We were coming from a party in Warwick and heading into town along South Shore Road by Coral Beach. We were leading the group and we started to speed up and the bike skidded.

"My friend got a sprained ankle and a night in jail while I punctured a lung, shattered a shoulder blade and received permanent head injuries.'' Jason had hopes of joining the US army before the fateful night of November 15, 1986 changed his world.

Now Jason lives with the effects of Ataxia which gives him jerky, unco-ordinated body movements. "My cerebellum was bruised which controls co-ordination and balance and a bit of everything else. When I get tired my vision gets obscured. I have fallen over numerous times and am used to getting back up -- I am like a baby all over again.

"I am accident-prone. I have mashed up my face but I was back at work the next day.'' BAMZ principal curator Jack Ward said: "This guy had a very serious accident and his body was broke. He's done wonders to improve himself.

"He's trying very hard and busting his ass. He gets up early and rides his bike down here to do this work, which is marginal financially.

"We are encouraging him to find some sort of area he can grow into. Right now he is doing labour work which won't help him at all. Most Bermudians seem to be too busy to take the time to deal with people like this, they can get left behind.'' Jason hopes a computer donated by Marshall and Co. will teach him skills to enable him to move on. But for the moment Jason struggles on hoping for a bit more help from Government.