The story of Olga who carries her son on her back shook Serbia. A gift from Paris changes everything

"I am in your debt, I don't know how I could repay you, I don't know, but I thank you from the heart for your gesture," said Pedja

Not only the whole of Serbia, but also our people living abroad have been touched by the story of Predrag Boskovic, 59, of Kosjeric, and his mother, Olga, 77, who has been carrying her son on her back throughout her life. A wheelchair arrived yesterday at Boskovics' house all the way from Paris, donated by DJ.M.

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Predrag has been struggling with cerebral palsy from birth. For almost six decades, his mother's legs have also been his. As he says, Olga lives two lives - her own, and his. On her back, he went to school, moved around the house and the yard, and even today, he can only embrace this tiny woman. Everybody else's shoulders are too wide.

Despite all this, Pedja greets visitors with a smile, in a typical small Serbian village home. It was the same yesterday when his gift came.

DJ.M. (who wanted to remain anonymous) from Novi Pazar has lived in Paris for 22 years. When she read the story of about the Boskovics she contacted Telegraf's newsroom and offered to donate a wheelchair she had at home. The wheelchair arrived on a bus from Paris and then continued to Kosjeric and the Boskovics' house, where Olga and Predrag welcomed it.

"I am in your debt, I don't know how I could repay you, I don't know, but I thank you from the heart for your gesture," Pedja told her when they spoke on the phone, genuinely touched by the gift from a woman who didn't know him, but did her best to help him.

"You don't owe me anything, just be healthy and live well and use it in good health," she told him.

As she told Telegraf.rs, the story about the Boskovics touched her very much.

"I'm glad to help whoever is in need. I'm Muslim, but I don't care who the people who need help are. Let it be seen that there is still love among us Yugoslavs," this woman said humbly.

Undefeated love and serenity

Olga and Predrag are humble, too, and they feel a little and uneasy that the whole of Serbia is talking about them. Since the story ran, hundreds of people contacted them to help, offering all manner of assistance - but as they say, their household is hard-working and they lack for nothing.

They have so far lived quietly, without complaining and never asking for anything from anyone, surrounded by the love and support of Olga's other son and his family. The locals in Kosjeric were left surprised, realizing that no one knew about their struggle. Then overnight, all of Serbia, thanks to a friend of the house, photographer Branko Ostojic, heard about a mother who carries her adult son to a small workshop every day, where he makes items out of wood.

"He didn't go to school for crafts, instead he learned everything from a neighbor who was a carpenter just by looking at him work. He spent days and days there and this craft got under his skin," says Olga.

Indeed, the house is packed with pieces of furniture that Pedja has made, with the one hand he can use. From the coat of arms of Serbia, made of thousands matches, a bottle lined with pieces of wood, a technique that Pedja himself devised, all the way to a whole dresser he assembled when he didn't yet have a single tool - except a kitchen knife.

"Music and wood, these are two of my loves. Although I don't sell the items I make I can't wait to see them finished," says Pedja, as Olga shakes her head and confirms his creative impatience.

Life hasn't been kind to the old woman. She also cared for her son when he had a stroke several years ago, which made his speech difficult, followed by a heart attack. But her cheerfulness conceals all that skillfully.

"I look at my peers who I know have lived better than I did. And to tell you the truth, they are neither prettier nor younger," Olga says jokingly.

The Boskovics points out that the local Center for Social Welfare in the past offered to provide them with a wheelchair, but because of the inaccessible terrain around the house, they hesitated to accept. Now the gift that came from the heart they couldn't refuse. However, the wheelchair will only have its full use once the yard is tidied up, so that Pedja can have full mobility. Kosjeric residents have already united - from the municipality, private and large local companies, as well as donors living abroad - all are working to help their fellow citizens.

(Dunja Savanovic)