Saturday, November 23, 2002

Last night I give news to our latest aid recipient of his receiving aid. Vagif was born normal, but during his childhood was sick and was medicated incorrectly in his spine, which destroyed his nervous system and he is now bound to a wagon (since they can't afford a wheelchair).

His sister, who is his primary caregiver, never married because of the burden of having to care for her brother. She was relived and said that though it will not cure him, the money is welcomed relief.

After I got off the phone with the sister, I got a call from someone reporting a person in a very desperate situation. I agreed to meet with that person today, and just finished my interview with them a few minutes ago.

This person is our even more recent aid recipient, who I�m covering with my own money her aid until I can find her a permanent sponsor.

Victoria Myrig is quite old (late 70�s). She was widowed in 1972 and had 2 sons. She came from Baku is 1988.

Victoria Myrig�s youngest son Valaric, a few years after his fathers death was attacked by some Turks and sustained trauma, which until his death 10 days ago, had him in and out of mental hospitals.

Victoria Myrig�s son did not die from his mental condition, but is believed to have died from a beating and starvation while in the care of the Stepanagert mental hospital, as his body was covered in bruises and he was abnormally thin. Victoria Myrig told me that her son had in the past escaped from the hospital and made his way home, reporting to her of his mistreatment in the hospital.

Victoria Myrig�s eldest son Vladic was a professional tank operator and at the start of the liberation movement, freed his brother from the mental hospital in Baku and made his way to Artsakh.

He was one of the early volunteers in the Artsakh army and as of 2 years ago was serving in the army. He was wounded 4 times during the war.

Two years ago, Vladic went to Jardar to visit a commander who just returned from Yerevan where he had an eye removed. At the table the drinks were flowing as they usually do and Vladic and the others got quite drunk.

Vladic returned to Martuni where from his drinking so much and it being a hot day wanted to drink water.

He went to the main government building where there are drinking fountains to find that they were turned off. He asked the guard for some water and the guard refused the drunk, who after a few choice words, the guard called the police who hauled off Vladic to jail.

In jail, Vladic was beaten severely, resulting in him having to be hospitalized due to damage he sustained to his lower organs. One of his organs had to be removed.

I remember when this incident happened, as it was quite a stink at the time and the chief of police was quite concerned as to what was going to happen to him, but later things died down and I didn�t hear anything else about it.

Because of his injuries, Vladic was no longer able to perform his duties and was effectively fired. He receives no pension from the Army or any government assistance and is unable to work.

For the last 2 years, Victoria Myrig and Vladic have been living off of Victoria Myrig�s 5,600 monthly pension.

Victoria Myrig will be going to the bank on Tuesday to receive her first $50 and then on the 10th of each month thereafter, as the rest of our aid recipients do.

She told me that this $50 and the next will go to help pay for the 40th day of her son Valaric�s passing.

She is going to instruct Vladic to write a request to our NGO which deals with social issues to see if we can at very least resolve the issue of Vladic�s pension from the army for his years of service.

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