What was your life like before...

Before the war, my husband and I lived in our own house. We had a vegetable garden, grew vegetables and fruit, kept chickens... Our little house was so cozy. Even though I was retired, I kept working as an accountant, because pensions are small.

How does this affect your everyday life?

Now every morning I remember my coffee maker, how we used to drink coffee, how in summer we sat in the gazebo... and again and again it overwhelms me. Now everything has to be bought on these small pensions. It was very hard for me to buy greens at 15-20 UAH a bunch... before, I would always just pop out into the garden and pick fresh ones. Now we only look at fruit and buy it very rarely, because the prices are something else... I can't go to work, because I already had quite a few serious illnesses before, and after the stress everything has become much worse.

Your strengths and dreams

What has held me up and still holds me up is my faith in God; the Lord gives me strength. Also the hope for something better, that maybe someday we will have a home of our own again (so much effort was put into our house, and now there are only ruins). I also do bead embroidery, knit and read; all of this helps take my mind off things.

What exactly will the funds be used for?

I need the funds for treatment. At the moment I have a big problem with my teeth. Last year I had dental prostheses made here, and they were done wrongly: my bite changed and I have a problem with my neck. My teeth have also worn down badly and become hollowed out. To restore my bite and move my jaw forward, it has to be fitted completely with prostheses. On my pension this is simply impossible! I also need a jacket and shoes, as mine are completely worn out.