My Story

Hello! Merisola Zito is fifteen years old and her birthday is in June. She has lived with cerebral palsy since birth, and as a result of this illness, she is unable to move from her bed. Because of her condition, she requires constant care and attention. The government assists both Merisola and her mother by providing at-home caregivers who help with her daily medical needs. They also cover hospital stays and other essential health-related expenses. Her mother receives a pension since she cannot go to work, as her full time is devoted to caring for Merisola. Merisolas family lives in one of the villages surrounding Prrenjas. Their home is small and offers poor living conditions for the eight members of the family. The members in this family are her grandmother, parents and three brothers, Her grandmother shares the household duties and helps with cooking and caring for the family when needed. Merisola has three younger brothers. They are all in school and are registered in the program. Adopt a Child program has been a great blessing for them. The family is very thankful for the love and support they have received through this program. The father of Marisola is working in Austria for almost a year to provide for the needs of the family. He works in construction. All his family misses him during the time he is not present. The grandmother of Merisola receives a small village pension, which contributes a little to the finance of family, but she also depends on them for her living costs. Like most families in their village, they own a small piece of land that they work on, though the harvests are not very large. This year the family planted alfalfa in the land and they sell it to the persons in the village who own animals. The grandmother and mother have also planted vegetables for consumption in family, but very little. They also collect fruits from the trees around their land and make homemade juice and jam, filling jars to store for winter. These small efforts help them provide food and comfort for the whole family. Winters in their village are very cold, but Merisolas father managed to buy enough firewood to keep the home warm. Their stove is used both for heating and for cooking meals. Even though Merisolas father works abroad, the family continues to face financial challenges. They are deeply grateful to the Adopt a Child sponsorship program for its continuous help and care for Merisola and the children who attend. Through this program, the family receives food packages The family of Marisola is sincerely thankful for the help and care they receive from the Adopt a Child program. Your kindness not only provides them with food and physical support but also gives them spiritual encouragement and hope. From their hearts, they thank you and pray that God blesses you abundantly for all the love and generosity you show to them and to so many other families.

Updated by World Race team assisting Adopt a Child Albania