A long-term resident who is struggling with the devastating effects of diabetes is asking for assistance from the community.

John Pacheco, 55, of St. David's, has been on the Island since he was 12 years old.

Mr. Pacheco has lost both his legs, most of his fingers, and is in imminent danger of losing his hand to the disease.

Now he is forced to ask the community for financial help, as he cannot work.

"I've never asked anyone for anything before," he said. "I was proud. But I can't go on like this much longer."

Because he is classified as a "long-term resident" rather than a Bermudian, all the official avenues of financial assistance have been closed to him and his family.

He came to Bermuda with his family from Arrifes, Sao Miguel, Azores.

"When I came here in the 1970s everything was different," he said. "At first I wanted to go back home. Then I got friends. Now it is home to me."

He went to school here for four years. When he graduated from high school he wanted to study mechanics.

"When I was 16 I went to work as a gardener, because in those days that was the only thing you could do, gardening or washing dishes," he said.

His father wouldn't allow him to further his education.

"The old Portuguese didn't have any education," said Mr. Pacheco. "My father said, 'no, you have to go work when you finish school'. That is what I did."

But at age 25, he developed Type Two diabetes.

In the last two years, the disease has gone from bad to worse for him.

"My kidneys were really bothering me," he said.

He was sent to Boston for medical testing, where it was discovered that his kidneys were failing. He is now on dialysis.

"After that, about a year ago I lost my left leg, and then my right leg, then my fingers. When it is going to stop; I don't know."

Mr. Pacheco said he often becomes depressed.

"To be like this, sometimes I wish God would take me," he said. "I don't want to be like this and suffering like this."

Now he faces the loss of one of his hands, which has become infected.

"I just leave it up to God," he said. "I believe in God. That is the main thing. Someone has to suffer, why not me?"

Mr. Pacheco said it was a hard life, made harder by constant financial worries.

He said that going back to the Azores is out of the question as he doesn't know anyone there.

"I don't know what it looks like," he said. "I only went there once, about 28 years ago. My kids were born here and they live here.

"All these years I have been here. I don't know anything else."

Diabetes runs on his mother's side of the family. "Sometimes I used to ask my mother, why me," he said. "She would look at me and start to cry. I try to tell my children to watch themselves so they don't also get diabetes."

Mr. Pacheco said one bright spot in his life, is his ten-month-old grandson, Rajiv.

"Sometimes, that is the only thing that keeps me going," he said. "I could be miserable, but when I see him, I am happy again."

If you are interested in helping Mr. Pacheco please contact him on 292-5299.