Caring for one another ve and disability
it was too late. The man had made away with €3,050.
Since this story appeared on the media, there have been several people who have come forward to help the couple. A benefactor from Gozo donated all the money that was stolen, while other people donated their services to help renovate their home.
So far, they have had their walls plastered and painted, and a security system installed. They should be having a new toilet installed soon and with some donated money, even a new kitchen. They have even found assistance from the Community Chest Fund, which has donated a table and a wardrobe.
Before the security system was installed, people used to knock on the couple’s door in the dead of the night, just to “scare us” as Mario recalls. He insists they are adults, not children.
To help keep the house clean, Mario and Therese used to employ cleaners with their own money; however, as Mario says with despair, they all took advantage of their disabilities and never cleaned properly.
Mario and Therese fondly recall the time they met when they were both residents in one of Fr Ang Seychell’s homes. Mario says he had no intention of getting together with Therese at the time, especially because Therese left the home before him. Three years later Mario returned to his home in Żejtun and thought “I wonder whatever happened to Therese.”
Mario then asked around as to where Therese was staying and when he found out he started visiting her every day. By this point, Therese fell in love with Mario so she asked him to move in together. Mario sought advice from his brother who told him that it would be nice for him to have company. They then took the decision to move in together.
This was the first time Therese had a stable family home, saying that her mother had abandoned her when she was a child. Mario also adds that her missing eye, which is currently replaced with a glass one was probably caused by some sort of trauma, of which Therese has no recollection. Unfortunately, as a result of her past, Therese has suffered from depression but says “despite everything, I am still doing well.”
Today Therese is a happy, joyful person, showing me all her clothes and telling me how she likes taking care of the way she looks. She even shows me one of her dresses, which says ‘Don’t worry, be happy’. She tells me she will wear it to the party Joan will help them host once their house is fixed up. She also spends time telling me a list of all the dishes she can cook, which she is very proud of.
Mario and Therese spend their days at a centre for blind people and have recently started going to Dar Il-Kaptan. In the evenings they go to the village square to chat and meet people. Both of them have a passion for music, especially 80s classics, which they spend most of the day listening to. Mario also receives a pen drive filled with Maltese romance novels every few day which he enjoys listening to.
After several hours chatting away to this lovely couple, I make my way out and Therese comes up to me and gives me a big hug and a kiss on my cheek. She thanks me several times for having visited, while Mario gives me a tap on my back. So much adversity, yet so much courage, Mario and Therese are the true definition of love and patience that every couple should aspire to.