Ileana's Story

Ileana is a beautiful warm and friendly lady aged 70 who lives in a ground floor room of a large building in Arad.   She is one of 39 elderly people being supported by the Widows Mite Project.  She was born in Hungary and had one brother who died when he was 5. Her parents moved to Romania during the second world war.  She married at age 19 but sadly it lasted only 3 months because her husband drank a lot and was cruel to her.  She returned home but her mother died when she was 22 and her father was killed in a car accident in 1974.  She formed another relationship lasting  20 years but he too died.  She has distant family in Hungary but never sees them.

Ileana has severe health problems - a weak heart, bronchitis and respiratory problems.

Wayne and I first met her 6 years ago shortly after she had been added to the programme..  At that time she was living in a tiny damp rat infested basement room.  She was in a desperate state - I will never forget the expression on her face when she opened the door to us.  She had trapped a rat in her minature oven.  She had previously lived in an upstairs room but the owner sold the building.  The lawyer who bought it made her leave and put her in the basement.


When we spoke to her in 2009 there was light at the end of the tunnel because she was shortly to be offered a small state apartment in the San Nicolau Mic area where she lived for 2 years.  However, with a pension of just 63 pounds per month she could not afford the rent and utilities.    Her monthly essential medication  costs 6 pounds and she can't always afford the rest. 4 years ago she returned to live in the city after being offered a room rent free.  However, her only heating is an old electric fire which is expensive.  Yesterday when we called the fire was turned off and the room was cold.

She is always grateful to receive a monthly food parcel.  She got excited when she saw the slippers and the Christmas Box.  She has also received a winter allowance towards heating from the Project which like the food is only a supplement.

As I came away I thought that perhaps a thermostatically controlled oil filled radiator may be cheaper to run.  This could possibly ease her financial burden and provide her with a little money for her additional medication.  I will investigate the cost on Monday.   If there is anyone out there who would like to make a donation towards the cost then please contact me.