{"id":340,"date":"2006-07-05T09:38:13","date_gmt":"2006-07-05T09:38:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/haysanta.am\/?p=340"},"modified":"2018-07-05T09:51:03","modified_gmt":"2018-07-05T09:51:03","slug":"if-only-my-child-felt-good","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/haysanta.am\/en\/if-only-my-child-felt-good\/","title":{"rendered":"”If only my child felt good . . ”"},"content":{"rendered":"

By<\/strong>\u00a0Suren Musayelyan
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Despite difficulties, the Khmboyans manage more or less to take care of their most essential needs. And despite numerous problems, mother Yelena says that their \u201cpain and sorrow\u201d is their son, 23-year-old Roman, who at the age of six was diagnosed as having an inborn scoliosis.<\/p>\n

Scoliosis is a deformation of the spinal column which, progressing, affects the work of internal organs.<\/p>\n

Roman suffers from a complicated form of the disease. He underwent five surgeries, however his situation was getting only worse. Local doctors gave up his treatment, saying that to achieve an essential improvement Roman needs an expensive surgery, which the family, hardly making ends meet, cannot afford to pay for.<\/p>\n

Roman\u2019s father, 59-year-old Volodya has a higher education in the sphere of agriculture, but now he has to earn his living as a laborer, and even this job is occasional. He and his wife, 51-year-old Yelena, were born and raised in the Shirak region. They moved to Yerevan still in the 1970s, and since 1982 they have lived in a three-room apartment in the village of Kasakh, Kotayk region (about 6 kilometers from Yerevan). Roman has two sisters, who are married, have children and problems of their own, so Roman cannot count on them for help.<\/p>\n

Still in 1989, when doctors confirmed Roman\u2019s diagnosis, Volodya made certain steps to ease his son\u2019s situation, but the collapse of the Soviet Union scuttled the family\u2019s plans.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we learned that Roman was ill, still during the Soviet times we opened a deposit, saving up for his treatment. But that deposit was frozen. After that, all our life was dedicated to taking care of the needs for treating Roman,\u201d says Volodya.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow we don\u2019t need anything,\u201d adds Yelena. \u201cI only wish the child felt good.\u201d<\/p>\n

The mother says that Roman\u2019s situation was a certain obstacle for him during his school studies. \u201cHe had to make a greater effort in studies, but he was always among the best pupils,\u201d Yelena says with pride.<\/p>\n

Roman was especially good at the Armenian language and literature. After school Roman studied in the industrial college for the specialty of a radio electrician. During this time Roman attended \u201cPyunic\u201d union for the disabled where he had found a wonderful environment for creative self-expression.<\/p>\n

Several times \u201cPyunic\u201d helped Roman to pay the fee for his studies. There, as well as at college, he participated in the work over a newspaper. After graduating he once a week visits \u201cPyunic\u201d, he already has about 200 works (essays, poems, etc.), small and large. This year Roman received a Baze festival award for his works.<\/p>\n

\u201cPyunic\u201d workers describe Roman as clever and modest and find that he should continue his studies in order to improve his skills.<\/p>\n

Roman is a third-group disabled and receives a disability pension of 3,200 drams (about $7) a month, which is an insignificant sum compared to his expenses. And the family, which is in debt as it is, is unable to create appropriate conditions for Roman.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo hell with money, only if my child felt good,\u201d says Yelena.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow that his spinal column has become bent, his lungs have been squeezed, which affects the work of the heart and lungs, and also causes aches. Oftentimes he has a stitch in his heart, and I don\u2019t even have the possibility to take him to the city,\u201d says Roman\u2019s mother. And his father adds: \u201cThere is not even a ground telephone line so that during his pangs we could call the first medical aid. In the whole building where there are 60 apartments, only two families have telephones. And a mobile phone would even more facilitate our communication.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Roman does not lose hope and continues to write.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to enter the philological department of the University after graduation, but I changed my mind for financial reasons,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Roman has no computer, but he has a great desire to get computer knowledge and work at home.<\/p>\n

Roman has so far failed to get a job, but he says that even in his situation he tries not to stay idle. At his leisure time he plays chess, tries to do some DIY-ing. And also he writes several poems or verses a day as a means of self-expression. \u201cNow I can handle only the Word program. A computer will help me prepare for studies and later have work at home,\u201d says Roman.<\/p>\n

Roman says that he mixes with his peers and has several friends who understand him. And with others\u2026 \u201cWell, I try to do so that there will be no problems,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want very much my works to find their reader. Upon the initiative of some people I managed to publish a few of my poems in a newspaper, after which I didn\u2019t have such an opportunity,\u201d says Roman. \u201cI am waiting for the happy day when someone will take my copybook and will penetrate my heart.\u201d<\/p>\n

The poems written by Roman are emotional and profound. He writes about his feelings, his homeland, his love.<\/p>\n

Yelena says that she understands her son, what is going on inside him.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes he recites his poems to us. It is a means for Roman to express his inner world. Sometimes he is embarrassed, does not read his poetry to us, but as a mother I know how much emotion and excitement he has in his soul,\u201d Yelena says.<\/p>\n

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