Kingston, Jamaica: Kordell Clarke, a special teenager from Jamaica who has lived a traumatic life and who has overcome more obstacles than most face in a lifetime, received a unique 18th birthday gift courtesy of Digicel. She was the company’s representative at the toss to officially commence the Second Digicel One Day International at Sabina Park.

West Indies captain, Chris Gayle, and India’s, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, were joined by the inspirational young lady who was lauded by Jamaican Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, for her outstanding academic triumphs and having defeated great odds during her yet brief life.

It was really great to meet Gayle and Dhoni and I’m really happy,” Kordell said afterwards as she soaked up the atmosphere of her first ever cricket match despite passing the world famous Sabina Park on a daily basis on her way to school.

She and her brother, Ramon Clarke, and a friend were also special guests in the Digicel Corporate Box for the duration of the game.

The captains, having heard of her many challenges in life – all of which she overcame with great determination and grace – told her how pleased they were to meet her and thanked her for coming to meet them.

Kordell, who celebrated her birthday on June 20 is a lower sixth form student at the Alpha Academy in Kingston where she secured 12 CXC subjects with seven distinctions and five grade twos.Hers has not been a life of smooth sailing or mere minor obstacles.

Kordell’s father died when she was 10 and she also lost a brother to cancer. Wracked by painful scoliosis which caused her body to be bent and her spine to form a painful S shape, Kordell faced the distinct possibility of being crippled for life.

With the help of Prime Minister Golding, her mother Pauline Livingston, corporate Jamaica and her friends, Kordell was able to successfully complete corrective surgery.

She now hopes to read for a degree in actuarial science at the University of West Indies. Digicel was honoured to select such a remarkable young lady as its ambassador for the day.