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St. Maarten -Prominent podiatrist and health advocate Zenia Duncan passed away Sunday morning after a brief but courageous battle with leukemia. Leukemia is a group of cancers that usually begins in the bone marrow and results in high numbers of abnormal white blood cells.
Duncan had always been a proponent of healthy living and devoted her resources and time to disseminating nutritional information and diabetes awareness.
Her clinic at the Heritage House on Front Street, Barefeet Chiropody, was a successful practice that offered foot care, surgery, examinations and treatment especially to the elderly and diabetic community on St. Maarten. It was the first of its kind and was officially opened by Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams on October 27, 2013.
Although she was born in St. Kitts, Duncan grew up on St. Maarten and had her tertiary education in the Netherlands. Most of her adult life was spent in Amsterdam and she had only returned to St. Maarten in 2011.
She was described as a vivacious, caring and intelligent Black woman, with an infectious smile who regularly made editorial contributions in the media. Â To her end, Duncan was still sending motivational thoughts to the social media community.
When news broke of her death, persons took the airwaves to express condolences to her husband, mother and son, as well as her other relatives. The Lloyd Richardson Show on PDJ2 was inundated with calls from the elderly who collectively expressed shock and sadness at her loss.
On Duncan’s Facebook page Prince Herbert Martina wrote “A free spirit, just as I first saw you to when I last did. A smile and personality that could brighten any room. You work on people’s feet but touch their hearts. You came in to my life for a reason for this I’m eternally grateful. With you there was no other choice to love, laughed, learn and labour. Your passion and your free spirit will always live in the hearts and lives of many who you touched. May your family be comforted and your friends find peace knowing now you are free.â€
“My dearest Zenia. I know that where you are is a better place. I just did not expect to loose you so soon….You were so brave and loved God! You will now be treating heavenly feet. Rest in eternal peace my dear friend,†Cheryl Valies expressed.
Duncan was diagnosed earlier this year, just a few months after her wedding in October, 2013. She was being treated in Colombia and then eventually at the St. Maarten Medical Centre. Â At the time of her death, Duncan was in her early 40s.
