“CaymanSpirit” How One Family Fights Back

Family values and education are long-standing priorities of the Ebanks family of West Bay – the Elford and Anniejoy Ebanks family, to be precise. But in this fifth week after Hurricane Ivan, strength of family relationships outstrips any other ideals.

Along with their three daughters Audrey, Stephanie and Rebecca, the couple was swept—literally—out of the family’s Batabano home as it was battered by the hurricane, bringing a new facet to their decades-long comfortable existence.

Rescued and taken to the district shelter at the height of the hurricane, the family returned to their severely damaged home as soon as the weather cleared. Thus began the tedious and exacting task of sifting through debris for precious salvageable items. Helped by son Randy, they also tried to establish a plan for recovery...

…Now, after more than a month of early morning treks home for days of cleaning and restoration, and returning to the shelter for a meal and evening’s rest, the family is beginning to see the light.

Practical Anniejoy fills her sparse free time making quilts from clothing scraps, falling back on timeworn traditions. Elford has interrupted his recent retirement from years of service at the Cayman Islands Turtle Farm and has temporarily returned there to help out, and the sisters are back to fulltime college classes.

Equally important, their insurance company has settled and; Elford and Anniejoy are eagerly planning to restore their home to some normalcy before leaving for Cayman Brac for Christmas and a well-deserved break.

As they work towards that respite, Audrey continues to sift through the rubble, every now and then salvaging memories from the mound outside her home. These are times of stark emotions, but the story told to future descendants of Elford and Anniejoy will form a proud part of their family and island home’s rich heritage of determination, ambition, and hope—intact against all odds.