New Year is always associated with Santa Claus, wishes, gifts. Sanja i Radoje Todorović from Bratonožić, a village about thirty kilometers from Podgorica, will allow themselves the "luxury" that they, like their children, Lazarus, Milos i Uroša, who are two, three and four years old, believe in New Year's magic. They know that it will enrich their home Milica, who is due to be born on New Year's, and they want to believe that Radoj's medical report will show that the cancer has gone away.
"I finished three cycles and I was supposed to receive the final therapy, but my leukocytes are low because of the chemotherapy, so from Monday I have to receive six bottles for five days. After that, there is the final therapy, and then the imaging and... We'll see what happens The doctor said that after these treatments it will be fine. I told her that it shouldn't work for me. I just know that I won't go on "My hair fell out, I lost 15 kilograms, I can't walk. If I knew I would be like this, I wouldn't have agreed to chemotherapy," Radoje told "Vijesti".
But he agreed. He had to. Life is at stake...
The appeal was not heard by the citizens, authorities and institutions
"Everything was good until August. We lived in Podgorica, as tenants, I was working, the boys were growing up, and my wife was pregnant. And they were looking forward to the New Year because after three sons we will have a daughter, Milica. In the summer we went to the countryside, children love the countryside. One morning I went to shave and saw a large hernia on my neck. And everything went wrong," says Radoje.
Examinations, a biopsy, a diagnosis that was not fully established, and then colleagues from work, family, friends got involved and collected 3.000 euros. Radoje went to Belgrade, where he underwent surgery. The operation went well, and the doctor told him on his way to Montenegro that the doctors should look at his testicles. Then new findings, examinations, a new operation. This time in Podgorica.
"They established that the cancer started from the right testicle. They removed it, and the metastasis spread to the stomach, chest, and neck," says thirty-five-year-old Radoje.
They move from Podgorica to Bratonožiće, to their great-grandfather's house, where the conditions are bad, they don't even have a bathroom, but they don't have a choice either. Radoje can no longer work and support his family, his wife Sanja is due to give birth soon, and they only have a child allowance of 30 euros per child. Too little for one life, and how little is enough for five or six lives.
"We have no material security for the family. I handed it in for someone else's care, so at least I get it. The wife does not have citizenship, and cannot travel to collect documentation. The due date for the birth is January 1st and we will have to pay for the birth as well because she does not have insurance, as I do not work, and her citizenship has not been settled yet. Maybe it would have been different if we had gotten married. I don't know. As soon as this passes and as it passes, maybe...", Radoje fell silent.
And the sequel should have read that maybe a wedding will follow, but he is afraid that it is not too much to wish for.
Radoja's journey to Podgorica is further exhausting due to chemotherapy. He is fainting, nauseous, in pain, weak, but fighting. He has to - for himself, Sanja, but, as he said, mostly for Lazar, Miloš, Uroš and Milica, who is yet to be born.
"It would be easier if we had accommodation in Podgorica, if I didn't have to travel so much. In October, I addressed the Government, but no one answered me. Marina Medojević immediately engaged to help, citizens help as much as they can. The companies 'Cerovo' and '7. August" came to change the roof of the house".
The food bank informed the public about the case of Radoj Todorović and his family and that they urgently need help. She got to know the institutions and invited the ministers of health, social care and internal affairs, the prime minister, and the mayor.
Their appeal was heard by citizens and certain companies. Not the authorities.
The mayor's office, as the Food Bank announced, informed them that they could not help because of the held local elections.
Todorović hopes that with the help of good people, he will be able to provide a safe roof over his head for the children in Podgorica. And that the New Year will really be new.
"When they told me it was cancer and metastases had started, I didn't know how to get out of the hospital. I sat down to think for a while. At first, I wondered how the children would get up. The sons know that their dad is sick and has a wound. They sit next to me and say - 'take it easy, let's not touch the wound, it hurts dad'. And my soul hurts. What do I need? Health! If I were healthy, I wouldn't need anything else, because I can create everything for my family. Like this...".
Anyone who can and wants to help can do so by making a payment to the giro account: 540-32155016-45, Erste bank, in the name of Radoj Todorović.
Friends of the Todorović family have launched a fund-raising campaign on the platform as well Gofundme.
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