A family that has never seen sunlight! Mom, dad and two little daughters - all blind, the children urgently need examinations and expensive medications!
A family that has never seen sunlight! Mom, dad and two little daughters - all blind, the children urgently need examinations and expensive medications!
REPOST RIGHT AWAY, MY GOOD MAN! HELP YOUR FRIENDS TO GET CLOSER TO THE WORK OF MERCY!
Life in poverty itself is already a tremendous challenge, and if you add the loss of sight to that, the situation becomes truly hopeless. Within each of us, there is a flicker of hope buried, but what is it like when even the brightest light cannot penetrate the darkness?
Magda (12 years old): I always wonder, how do others see the world? I can distinguish colors, but are they truly the way I "understand" them, or are they brighter? And I don't know how to explain this.
- What is it like not being able to see? How do you perceive the world, what is it like for you?
Magda: Magda: A world without sight is like a vast dark labyrinth. I don't see the world, I feel it. I can hear, touch, and smell, but I will never see the beauty that others describe.
- What do you think, are you beautiful? How is physical appearance perceived when the eyes cannot see beauty?
Magda: Beauty, to me, goes beyond outward appearance. I believe that beauty goes deeper. It lies within the souls and hearts of people. Although I cannot see my reflection in the mirror, I believe I am beautiful. They often tell me, "You're such a beautiful girl." People often feel sorry for me, but I don't pay attention to that. Why should they feel sorry for me? I may not be like other girls, but I am alive! I dream like any other girl, I love listening to information, I love learning. I can distinguish colors, see silhouettes... Some people are not even given that. Recently, I wanted to make bead necklaces with colorful beads, but my mother couldn't buy them for me.
- What do you dream about? What goals and desires do you have in your heart?
Magda: My dream is to become a teacher for visually impaired children in elementary school. I want to share my experience and help other children overcome the barriers I have faced. I also dream of visiting an observatory and trying to see the stars that I have only heard about in YouTube videos. I don't know if I will be able to see them, but I want to give it a try. They say that when it's dark, looking at the sky is a pure pleasure.
- Yes, the stars are truly beautiful. What worries you the most when facing obstacles in your life?
Magda: My biggest concern is the feeling that the world is passing me by, that I am missing out on so much that is important. Sometimes I fear that my vision challenges will hinder my dreams. I don't want to be dependent on others and always be limited in my opportunities. My mom supports me a lot. I see that my mom and dad are trying to set an example for me that even with zero vision, one can still live. My dad goes to the store and teaches me how to navigate. My mom can't go out. She's always at home, making us meals and doing the laundry. It's probably unbelievable for you, right? Imagine doing all that with your eyes closed. Give it a try, and then you'll get used to it.
If a good doctor examines Dea, maybe we can save her eyesight?
- Magda, you reason like an adult. It's so interesting talking to you! I understand that you love your parents very much. Can you determine how kind or mean a person is just by their voice?
Magda: I love my family; they are my support and backbone. I don't think you can fully judge a person solely by their voice. Kindness and cruelty go deeper; they are expressed through actions and how one treats others. But my dad says that you can hear warmth and care in someone's voice, and I believe him. He told me that when he and mom first met, he fell in love with her voice. And mom says she immediately knew that he was "the one." I don't know what that means, but maybe when I grow up, I'll also find my special someone. Maybe someone will fall in love with me despite my terrible burns. When I was two years old, I accidentally fell into a basin with boiling water.
- Oh! And you remember it? Can you tell us about it?
Magda: Yes, I remember it very well! The burns left terrible marks on my leg, and I feel them every day. They remind me of how close I came to death, and sometimes I feel defective because of these scars. I was 2 years old, playing with my doll, and I didn't notice that I had approached the basin where my mom was supposed to do laundry. I tripped and fell. I remember how painful it was, how my mom screamed and took off my clothes, and my skin peeled off along with them. I even remember being taken to the hospital in an ambulance. You know what else I remember? I stayed there for a long time, almost a month, and they didn't let me see my mom. I overheard a conversation once that they would only let my mom in when I was sleeping. So, I pretended to be asleep. They let my mom in, and I was so scared to open my eyes, I just listened as she caressed me and told me how much she loved me.
- Poor thing! What do the doctors say?
Magda: They actually said that I wouldn't survive. They scared my mom. They said they would have to amputate my leg. But here I am, alive. And I still have my leg, although it has these terrible scars. I really want to go swimming, but I'm so embarrassed by these awful scars. I'm afraid that other children will make fun of me or reject me because of my scars. But I hope that one day I'll find the strength to overcome my fears. As for people staring at me because of my eye and whispering about me - I'm already used to that.
- Is there any way to heal your skin? Are there any remedies?
Magda: We don't always have enough money for food, let alone buying medications and ointments for my eyes. But eye drops are just as crucial for the blind as air is for you! They are vital for me and my entire family. Unfortunately, we sometimes have to make a choice between buying medications or food. My family tries to find opportunities and support, but it's becoming increasingly difficult with each passing day. That's why we reached out to your Fund. We still have to pay for our apartment as well.
- What has been the most challenging aspect of your life related to your visual impairment?
Magda: The most challenging part for me was realizing that I am different, that I will never see the world the way others do. Thankfully, there are many technologies for the blind now that make life easier. For example, I have a tablet with very bright and large text - I can see and read it. Braille books are not always available for the books I'm interested in. I love participating in various competitions and olympiads. However, not all of them provide tests in Braille. If you can let the organizers know about us, maybe they will consider including options for visually impaired participants as well. We may have poor vision, but it doesn't mean we are not strong in subjects like mathematics, history, or others.
- Magda, tell me about your dreams. What would bring light into your life?
Magda: I feel so embarrassed talking about this. My mom invited you here not for the purpose of fulfilling my wishes.
- I will ask your mom separately. Tell me about your dreams for now.
Magda: I have a big dream of visiting a park with amusement rides. I once sat on a carousel, and it was an indescribable feeling. Also, as I mentioned before, I dream of visiting an observatory, and I would love to have a trampoline. Those are my dreams. Oh, there's one more! But it's probably an impossible one. There's a TV series called "Ideal Mom," and there's a character named Maka. I adore her. (Note: actress Iako Chilaia, link to her profile on FB: https://www.facebook.com/iako.chilaia)
If I could tell her how much I love her, it would also fulfill one of my wishes.
- Natia, y Magda has practically covered everything, leaving you with little to add. That's how children are - they tell it as it is. However, please share with us as well, how can we help your family?
Natia: There are 5 people in our family, and we are all visually impaired. I have glaucoma, and my husband has cataracts. We have been suffering from these conditions since childhood. Surgeries did not provide any results. Our children also have visual impairments. You have met Magda, and little Dea is also visually impaired. We think there might be a chance to somehow treat her, but we don't have money for doctors or treatment. Our only income is disability pensions, and we spend half of it on rent, while the rest goes to the bank. We had to take out loans to survive the winter. Sometimes we have to choose between buying medicine or bread. That's why I reached out to you. I beg you not to leave us without medication and to create some living conditions in this rented apartment.
- Do you not have your own house?
Natia: My husband is from the village of Vedzatkhevi in Tianeti. The house there is in very poor condition, and there is no school for the children. How can we not send Magda to school? You have seen for yourself what kind of girl she is. We came to Tbilisi for the sake of their future. My husband's sister also lives with us. She is not only blind but also unable to adapt to life. While their parents were alive, they took care of her, but now it's me and my Magda who take care of her. I'm begging you, please help us with beds and furniture, any kind of furniture. Right now, everything is lying on the floor, and it's so difficult to find things. We sleep on two beds and a couch. The children need beds. That's all! That's the maximum I dream of. I just don't know who to address. Everyone is blind and deaf to our pleas. You are the only ones we managed to reach out to!
"We all need eye medications and buying it for five people is very expensive!"
They suffer in silence, unheard and unseen. But we can be rays of light in their dark world. It is in the darkness that these unfortunate families fight for their lives. They need our light, our support, and our compassion.
Remember that every contribution, no matter how small, holds immense value. The assistance we provide can change the lives of these individuals forever.
If you are willing to visit this family and help them in person, here is their address: Varketili, 3rd Array, 7th Block, Building 16, Apartment 3.
Every time you can help someone, just do it, and rejoice that God answers someone's prayers through you!
We are sure that all together we will manage to save them from imminent death.
Please don’t forget to repost our story. Let your friends know about the grief of this family! It’s extremely important!
Friends, there is one more request: if you know about the misfortune of a neighbor or friend do a godly deed, drop us an email at: office-fsp@fsp.ge
Our Fund’s accounts are:
- In Bank of Georgia #GE42LB0115113036665000
– In TBC Bank #GE15TB7194336080100003;
– In Liberty Bank #GE42LB0115113036665000;
(Purpose: The Kokozashvili family)
You can also transfer money from our website: TБC Bank (GeoPay), Bank of Georgia (e-commerce), Liberty Bank (PayGe), PayPal.
It is also possible to transfer money from TBCpay, ExpressPay and PayBox (OPPA) terminals. Find our Fund under "Charity" section (you can read more about rights and responsibilities of the Fund following the link https://goo.gl/GY2Gus).
We have already helped thousands of disadvantaged people! Let’s support this family too! And who knows, maybe someday we ourselves will need the help of strangers! Life is always unpredictable!
Even if you dial once this special number, it might save someone's life: 0901200270! God bless you!
