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We spoke with Baldwin and gleaned larger lessons on disability buoyed by a hard won optimism. We spoke with Baldwin and he didn't hold back. Jomarie Lanza and C-Jay Mejia teamed up for this report:

Denfield Baldwin is not the man he used to be. This once upon a time working man is now a double amputee. He hobbles around on crutches and is no longer able to work for a living. So what does he need? He is in need of a drastic intervention to get moving once again on this motorized wheelchair. And without it he can't move and he can't fend for himself

Denfield Baldwin, Double Amputee
"What I want to tell the public is I'm disabled right now I am a disabled dude. Everyone knows me. I was a hard working dude before I got like this, I worked storage, I worked with concrete, I worked Borg, I worked with Sir Mac. Chiney man Lu I dogged down a sewer line. I worked all about and social security knows this right now I have no foot. In 2019 when the corona was entering Belize some Wart came on my instep."

"One time I went to buy my pilinky and then a dog bit me. And I took long to go to the hospital and when I did go to the hospital the doctor told me Mr Baldwin we have to cut this foot because this already got infected and I said no problem."

"They left me in the hospital and over two months and change I was in there and they just cut my next foot and then they cut my foot the way they cut the next one and now I have no knee. And I can't work no more."

But like any working man he was insured by social security. However due a series of unfortunate events he says he has lost access to his benefits

Denfield Baldwin, Double Amputee
"I used to pay social security all my life. Why can't they assist me and give me what is mine? They just have me up and and down and up and down and turn me around when I go to them they told me Mr Baldwin right now we have to get where all you were working and I would say I don't have any time for that."

"I want Social Security to stop turn me around and give me what is mine please."

And while he is out on his luck Baldwin is still optimistic and a friend to all who seeks his help.

Denfield Baldwin, Double Amputee
"Lots of women deceive me, they come, set me up they do me a lot of things and I still show them love. God knows I'm not lying. And right now I always tell them I will always be here for you. You will go and you will come right back and right now the way how I live who comes, comes who stay, stays and who goes, go."

"Please I want somebody hear this so you can help me. Please let me get my money from social security and please don't make Social Security the turn me round and turn me round because I am a hard working Belizean. Please I just want somebody help me the best way they could so I could even send to my mom so I can buy the battery for my thing. I don't have any foot and I'm going to die right now. Please you have to understand me people. I saw them cut off my neighbor's foot and he already pegged out he couldn't take it. He died I don't blame him. And I don't have none and please I'm not looking to give up my life right now. I'm trying to praise God and repent more and ask God to forgive me for my sins."

We checked and his his social security situation is not that straightforward. First he doesn't qualify for the disability benefit because he did not lose his legs on the job. Second, at 58 years old, he's two years away from a retirement grant. And it would have to be a grant not a pension because Baldwin has not paid contributions since 2005 and does not have the 500 contributions necessary to get a pension.