"The Lord has saved the most valuable thing - my life!  And I'm grateful to him for that!  - crosses herself Lela. "I've been used to difficulties for a long time... Fate hasn’t spoiled me."

We visited her in her miserable, eternally cold room, which fits a bedroom, a kitchen and a bathroom... The unhappy woman shares her sad story with us.

Lela: For the most of my life I've been alone, trying to survive, to stay afloat. I had a stroke eight years ago... Thanks to my good neighbors, that they found me in time, managed to take me to hospital, and save me... I spent a long time in hospital. I couldn't talk at all, I thought I was going to die... Doctors, endless procedures, injections... But, alas, my life will never be the same.  I was entitled to the disabled person status, it is impossible to fully restore my speech, and I can’t do any physical work.  Now I exist on the allowance only, I live in this shack and I think with horror about tomorrow... All my days are similar to each other: full of loneliness, cold and hunger.  I am still alive thanks to my good neighbors, who sometimes treat me with dinner, sometimes give me some clothes, feel sorry for me...

- How did it happen that you found yourself absolutely alone in this rented apartment?

Lela: I have lived a hard life ... And I don’t want to remember it, to be honest... After the stroke, a lot has been erased from my memory, probably for the best ... I was born in the village of Nichbisi, in a very poor family. While the other children went to school, I used to work with pick and shovel. We lived very hard ... Then my brother got married, you know, a young family, a small house. I decided not to embarrass them and moved to Tbilisi to work. I sold my part of the land parcel and bought a one-room apartment here, fortunately, they were quite cheap then. I was about 30 then. I worked at a construction site, earning enough to live on. I took on even the most difficult work, which only men were supposed to do... Apparently, it ruined my health... I underwent two operations one after another: first they removed the ovary cyst, then appendicitis. But something went wrong, sepsis developed. I needed huge money for the treatment, so I had to sell my apartment. Oh, it was a pity, but I had to save myself somehow! I managed to pull through with God's help. I even returned to the construction site. But since then, for 14 years now, I have been living in rented apartments.

- Lela how did it happen that you had a stroke?

Lela: As I already said, after recovery I returned back to work at the construction site, where a large board fell on my head. Sparks fell from my eyes ... It was terribly painful, of course, but then I did not pay attention to it, my colleagues even laughed: how strong my head turned out to be. But literally a few days later, early in the morning, I had a stroke. I don’t know if it was the result of that blow... A neighbor came to me early in the morning for coffee and found that I was lying on the bed, unable to utter a word, and the right side of my body, my arm and leg were paralyzed. She called the other neighbors for help, and they took me to hospital. In fact, they saved my life. May God grant them health!

- Do you take any medications now? Is it really impossible for you to recover? What do the doctors say?

Lela: Unfortunately, my situation is hopeless. Thank God, I can somehow talk, but I could have remained dumb! This would be equal to death! I’m completely alone all day, but at least I can chat with my neighbors. If I was speechless... I don't want even to imagine that. The problem is that I can no longer work, and the allowance I get is woefully insufficient.

- Doesn’t you family, there in the village, help you in any way?

Lela: Oh, no! My mother died several years ago of a heart attack, my father is disabled. My brother has a lot of his own worries and troubles, he must keep his family somehow...

- Lela, I'm sorry for the awkward question, why didn't you start a family? Why didn’t you get married?

Lela:  It didn't come up...I did not meet a person with whom I’d like to spend my whole life. Years passed in convulsive attempts to survive, to earn the bread for the day. Then these sores. When I realized it, it was already too late to arrange a personal life...

Of course, it’s not what I dreamed of when I came to the capital 20 years ago. But what can I do? It is whatever it is.

- Did you address the authorities for help?

Lela: The Townhall pays the rent for this room - 180 GEL. They give me a disability allowance - 140 GEL, and plus 50 GEL as a socially unprotected person. That's all. For a long time I knocked all the doors, asking to give me at least a small room. They put me on the waiting list, and no progress from them so far ...  I only ask for normal conditions - for the amount that they pay, one can find nothing better than this kennel. Only eight square meters - for a bedroom, a kitchen and a bathroom. It is terribly cold here, in winter I try to heat it with gas, but I’m afraid of being poisoned... And the bills that come are tremendous.

- Lela, what is the allowance enough for?

Lela: For not to starve to death. I have to buy medications. Whatever remains is enough for bread ... If not for the neighbors ... Although it is difficult for them to cope, they still try not to leave me unattended: they bring me food, they give me clothes. Everything I wear are hand-me-downs. I don’t remember the last time I bought something for myself.

- Do you believe in God?

Lela: Yes, of course! I go to church and pray at home too. The Lord is merciful, he saved my life ... And this is the main thing! Because I really could be dead now ... No matter how hard it is, life is dear, no one wants to die ... I am grateful to God that, by his grace, I was saved from an inevitable death!

- Lela, just an obvious question, what is your biggest dream?

Lela: I only want to have my own space, not to wander around looking for rented apartments. I want a quiet life... And... health. I understand that I cannot have it back. But in my dreams, I am healthy and able to work again... (Turns away, hides her tears.)

– What do you think, you need most in your home?

Lela: Food. This is the biggest problem. The allowance is not enough, I only can afford bread, tea, buckwheat... I really need a refrigerator, it happens that my neighbor brings me lunch. I would be happy to stretch it for a couple of days, but there is nowhere to store it, so that everything turns sour. Even if you make a simple soup, it will go bad. I would very much like to have an electric heater, as it is impossible to breathe in my little room because of this stove... Clothes, shoes ... Too much dreams, excuse me for that, please!

- Lela, how did you learn about our Fund and why did you decide to address us?

Lela: From social networks, and my neighbors’ advice. They said that you really help those who are in trouble. If it were not for the extreme need, I would have never bothered anyone... I am even grateful to you for coming and listening to me. May God grant health to you and the generous friends of your Fund!

***

  Friends, fate was cruel to our compatriot Lela Osepashvili. She is sick and lonely, she is deprived of the opportunity to earn her daily bread. She lives in a tiny room without any amenities and dreams of only one thing - having a tasty and satisfying meal ... She cannot afford such a luxury.

  Lela Osepashvili is in dire need of food and medications. She also needs a refrigerator and a heater.

You can visit her and provide Lela Osepashvili with all possible help. Address: Tbilisi, Nadzaladevi, 15 Sakviri Str.

Or you can call Lela and cheer her up with your kind words! Phone: 557 76 18 83.

Please repost our publication. Let your friends know about the grief of this family! It’s extremely important!

God gives us chances to care about people who are unable to take care of themselves. Do not pass by someone else's trouble! Those poor people are sent to us by heaven so that we could prove not by words, but in deeds that we trust in God!

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: 

#GE15TB7194336080100003

#GE42LB0115113036665000

#GE64BG0000000470458000

(Purpose: Lela Osepashvili)

You can also transfer money from our website.

It is also possible to transfer money from Nova Technology, TBCpay and ExpressPay 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 many disadvantaged people!Let’s support Lela Osepashvili too, as no one is immune to bad luck! And who knows, maybe someday we ourselves will need the help of strangers!

One call saves life - 0901 200 270.