When the World Narrows into Darkness
I am creating this project not out of theory, but from the very heart of a personal catastrophe.
I have always maintained a healthy lifestyle and worked for large construction corporations on major projects. I was a family man, spending all my free time with my wife and children. But after COVID, diabetes began to manifest in me, and its consequences became increasingly noticeable: my vision deteriorated, weakness set in, and wounds stopped healing properly. At this difficult moment, my wife decided to continue her life with another person—my family fell apart. This event came as a complete shock to me.
Suddenly, I found myself severely ill, with poor eyesight, in total isolation without a Plan B, in a foreign country, without knowing the local language, without housing or transport, and with huge, rapidly growing debts. Without official support from government authorities.
I was under immense stress. I cried a lot. I couldn’t hold back. I had to start my life all over again.
In short: moving, worsening vision, an attempt to get a job as a cleaner, then two leg surgeries, vision deteriorated even further, received a disability status due to diabetes, underwent two cataract removal surgeries on my right and left eyes, went through divorce proceedings, got a job as a project coordinator (couldn’t hold on to it due to issues with the local language).
During this time, there were difficult divorce proceedings and legal hurdles—due to blindness and total isolation, there was no way to defend myself properly: reading documents, preparing evidence. In addition, my bank accounts were blocked (I lost the ability to buy hospital tickets in advance for eye treatment). My medical insurance was canceled, and my communication with my son was restricted.
The harshest experience was that 99% of my loved ones, friends, and acquaintances distanced themselves significantly, simply disappearing from my life. But the most incredible thing was that absolute strangers, complete outsiders, showed the kind of generosity and humanity that those close to me were incapable of. Unfortunately, even the closest people and family members could not find the strength to stay by my side.
I do not know how much time I have left or how I will live, and I won’t be able to restore my health one hundred percent. But at this moment, I am taking my pain and turning it into a tool that is helping me survive right now and will save many other people facing isolation, a deaf wall of indifference, and apathy in their time of trouble.
