Paul has no pension or social benefits because there is no functional social system in Lebanon anymore. The country has gone bankrupt. The banks have taken the savings. Eventually, the electricity, which in all of Lebanon comes on for only 2-3 hours a day, ran out. Without electricity, Paul cannot breathe.
Paul’s life is a story of helplessness and about how an old, rattling diesel generator works better than the Lebanese state structures. Paul lives thanks to his wife and friends. 19 years ago, polymyositis confined him to bed. Unexpectedly and brutally. Paul lost the power even over his own breath.
“Et si tu n’existais pas…” He starts singing the old French hit with a hoarse, breathless voice. We pick up the melody and sing along.
“Do you know what’s important in life? To love and be loved. Not just when everything is going well, but particularly during tough times.”
Paul doesn’t have many friends. When he fell ill, he found out he could count on three. Dr. Harouny is one of them – he brings meds and provides medical equipment. Other friends do the shopping and help pay the bills. Paul’s wife can’t leave him alone for more than a few minutes. She can’t take up employment, she has given up her own life to take care of her husband.
The cost of medication, hygiene products, and the basic assistance that Paul now lacks amounts to €420 per month. Let’s show Paul that he has real friends and he won’t be alone. €420 is really not that much. It only takes 70 people who would share €6 with Paul once a month.