The suffering of her soul and body is unbearable!
The suffering of her soul and body is unbearable!
REPOST RIGHT AWAY, MY GOOD MAN! HELP YOUR FRIENDS TO GET CLOSER TO THE WORK OF MERCY!
"My husband kidnapped me right from school when I was 15 years old. I was still a child myself, and when I learned that I was expecting a girl, I was so happy. I thought she would be my little doll, that I would dress her up and braid her hair. I hadn't even had enough time to play with dolls when I became a mother. Family life was very tough for a little girl like me. I thought the birth of my daughter would be a celebration of my soul,” - says Nino, with tears streaming down her cheeks. - My unfortunate daughter had health issues, but both the doctors and my husband with his mother concealed it from me. However, what could they say to a 16-year-old girl who became the mother of a disabled child?"
Over the course of 20 years, Mariam’s spine has curved to such an extent that her chest meets her knees. Even the slightest wrong movement can be fatal for her. The girl can simply "break."
As the years go by, Mariam's condition becomes increasingly difficult. She and her mother Nino have already come to terms with the fact that she will never be able to walk, that she is not destined to live a normal life like other girls. But due to the lack of money even for basic pain-relieving medications, Mariam suffers. She has bleeding sores on her feet. She struggles to breathe due to the dampness, as the family lives in a garage. She has bleeding abscesses on h They don't have the means to afford a proper room for rent. Every movement is challenging for her. Even to move from her wheelchair to the bed, Mariam has to wait for her mother, who is busy with cleaning jobs.
Nino: 20 years ago, I was shocked to see an open wound on the back of my newborn girl. She was born with a congenital spinal abnormality – spina bifida. On the third day after childbirth, they performed surgery on the baby. Her condition was so critical that her nerve endings were damaged, and she was permanently deprived of the ability to walk. My husband and mother-in-law kept all of this from me. Trying to shield me from distress, they didn't even let me hold her, saying I was still too young and might drop her... But just a few days later, I accidentally saw the wound on her back. Words can't describe the horror I felt! From that moment on, for 4 years, we lived in hospitals. But I held onto hope that everything would work out and I'd manage to help my daughter stand on her own. With my little one in my arms, I rushed from one doctor to another, taking her for massages and various procedures. They probably knew they couldn't help my girl, but they drained everything out of me – money, strength, nerves. It turned out to be all in vain.
- When did you learn the truth that Mariam is doomed?
Nino: I only learned about the futility of all my efforts four years later, from German doctors. And then the world collapsed for me. I thought, what's the point of living if my child will never be able to walk and will suffer until the end of her days? My poor girl, my Mariam, has never walked and will never be able to. She is now 20 and has been confined to a wheelchair her entire life. I do everything in my power to provide her with a decent life. I worked in vineyards in the village, earned a living through strenuous physical labor, and here in Tbilisi, I take on any job I can find. Otherwise, we'll simply starve to death.
- You said you were just a child yourself when Mariam was born.
Nino: My husband kidnapped me at the age of 15, right from the school desk; we didn't even know each other. He was 13 years older. Those were different times, returning home meant shame and a ruined future for a girl, and my parents probably wouldn't have accepted me either. So, I became a mother while still being a child myself.
- And how did you end up here, in Tbilisi, and why do you live in this tiny, damp garage?
Nino: Two years ago, my husband and I decided to separate. Mariam's condition deeply affected him; you know, men find it harder to cope with such blows. He developed an alcohol addiction... We were arguing every single day. And Mariam is very sensitive; she cries when something happens, she has heart problems, she suffocates. I made a hard decision, for my daughter's peace of mind.
- How do you manage to live in such conditions... it's not even a room, but a garage!
Nino: You can see for yourself how we live. It's cramped here, and the dampness is unbearable. But we can't afford better conditions; I'm thankful to God that we have a roof over our heads. Mariam has outgrown her wheelchair long ago, it's worn out, all the armrests are torn, she can hardly even sit in it. Because of that, her elbows are scraped. And due to her immobile lifestyle, horrible ulcers have formed on her heels, oozing some kind of liquid. I'm trying to help her somehow, but I only have enough for Vaseline and cheap ointments. She's already suffering enough, and now there are these additional hardships. We don't have enough beds; our grandmother sleeps on a broken chair. I have to sleep next to Mariam because she often has heart problems at night, or I have to change her diaper.
- How do you find the strength within yourself?
Nino: Despite her physical condition, Mariam is just an ordinary girl – kind, conscientious, no different from her peers in any way. She simply can't walk. And yet, she longs so much to live, to be outside, to have fun, like any other young person her age. But she's deprived of that ability. I try to entertain her as best I can, not allowing her to feel bored. When I come home from work, I grab her wheelchair and "rush" with her to the yard, so she can at least breathe fresh air. It's a pity we don't have the money to take a taxi to a park somewhere, to show her something new and beautiful. For Mariam, the whole world is me. I am her legs, her eyes, and I don't even want to think about what will happen to her if something happens to me. I've never shown my tears to Mariam, and I'm proud that I'm her mother.
- What's the most challenging part of taking care of your daughter?
Nino: She weighs over 60 kg, and it's very difficult for me to bathe and dress her... You know, I used to constantly think about how my daughter could have been helped in Turkey, I blamed myself for not being able to earn more... But 6 years ago, I accidentally managed to get a consultation with doctors who came from Turkey. It was they who convinced me that the situation was hopeless... It was a completely bleak verdict, but the feeling of guilt for my poverty left me.
- Is Mariam your only daughter?
Nino: When Mariam was 4 years old and the doctors pronounced her sentence, and I thought of ending my life, it turned out that I was expecting my second child. It was as if a second breath had opened up for me... And you know, Giorgi truly turned my life and Mariam's life around, they adore each other! Right now, he's living with his father, but he comes to visit us for a week once a month. We don't have enough beds, so he sleeps with me and my daughter, and she spends the whole night stroking his head. Mariam adores her brother - if there's something delicious at home, she saves the tastiest piece for him. My son is still a child, he is 15, but he is already talking about moving in with us as soon as he finishes school - he will work and help me.
- Does anyone help you? What do you live on?
Nino: Our income consists of my daughter's and my grandmother's pensions. She moved here with us so that Mariam wouldn't be alone, and I could have the opportunity to work. She's quite elderly, sick, and can barely move, and that's only within the house. Her pensions barely cover her medications, and with my daughter's pension, I pay the rent for this garage. The rest - utilities, diapers, food - depends on how much I can earn from cleaning jobs. My friends help us as much as they can; just a couple of days ago, a friend gave me a bag of groceries and sweets for Nino. My father passed away from cancer six years ago, and my mother still hasn't been able to pay off the debts for his treatment.
- How can we improve your life?
Nino: We always lack diapers for my daughter and food... We don't have enough beds; there are two old ones, where Mariam and I sleep. A washing machine would be a godsend. I'm not lazy, but besides work and taking care of my daughter and grandmother, hand washing such a volume of laundry takes a huge amount of energy and time. And if we had a television, it would be a great joy for Mariam! She loves watching TV series; it's her only entertainment. My smart girl, she learned Turkish by herself from the internet just to watch her favorite shows without subtitles.
- Mariam, what else do you do? What are your hobbies? Do you have many friends?
Mariam: I have a lot of friends, but they all live in the village. When they come to Tbilisi, they always visit me; we exchange messages, talk on the phone... I love them very much, and they love me. I think it's important when you feel loved and accepted for who you are.
- Have you experienced non-acceptance?
Mariam: Not exactly non-acceptance. Besides willingness, you feel sidelong glances, you know, a vague feeling when people stare at you with either disgust or pity. No one should stare at people who are different from others in amazement. We're not at fault for being different from you! We love life, have the same desires and dreams, and want to both love and be loved!
- What do you dream about?
Mariam: My biggest dream is to start working. I've reached out to many companies, explained my situation, and asked. But I either received empty promises or got no response at all...
- What would you like to do?
Mariam: I would really love to work as a manicurist. I understand that it's challenging, that I would have to sit with my head down the whole day, but I love it so much! My dream is to work, to have my own earnings, even if they're small, and to help my mom. She works so hard and never spares herself! I know your Fund has many wonderful friends, and I hope they will become my friends too. When you have many people around you, life becomes easier.
- You probably can't even imagine how many wonderful, kind, God-fearing people live in our country, and they will be happy to help you!
Nino: I have always believed in God, always knew that He wouldn't leave us! You know, it's when you yourself don't know what kind of help you're waiting for, but you simply ask Him for help! The Lord heard our prayers, you responded to our request for help, and you came. And now, with all my heart, I feel that this is the beginning of something very good in our lives!
Friends, sometimes fate presents us with challenges that are incredibly difficult to overcome. However, Nino and her beloved Mariam managed to do just that. Despite illness and financial hardship, they've held onto their love for each other and hope for the future. Isn't this what truly matters in life? We should take inspiration from them and feel compelled to support them in their arduous journey.
To bring happiness to their lives, they need very little: a new wheelchair, medications for treating sores, beds, a washing machine, groceries, and diapers. And Mariam would be over the moon if we could give her a television! Because it's her only source of entertainment.
If you are willing to visit this family and help them in person, here is their address: Tbilisi, Nutsubidze 3 plateau, garage next to building 7.
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 Nanobashvili 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!
