KINGSTON, Jamaica — Motherhood is often associated with biology, but for many women, it is ultimately defined by love, sacrifice and unwavering commitment.

For Karen Brown, customer service manager at Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS), becoming a mother was not part of a carefully mapped-out plan. Instead, it was a role she stepped into during one of the most heartbreaking moments of her life — and embraced with remarkable courage.

In 2020, after the devastating loss of her brother, Karen became the primary caregiver for his three children, two boys and a girl. Overnight, grief and responsibility became deeply intertwined as she worked to help the children rebuild a sense of security while quietly navigating her own pain.