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Armenia Welcomes its Youngest Benefactor, Seven Months Old

Anjelina Pegruhi Demir

September 05, 2012 - Armenia

By: Nairy Ghazourian

Sara Citak-Demir states:

“Giving to the less fortunate and to worthy causes is a task learned early on in life” says. My husband and I want to make sure our daughter Anjelina grows up with good ethics, values and the heart of a benefactor."


photo: RMF Benefactor, 7-months old Anjelina "Pegruhi" Demir

While here in Armenia, I have been visiting and spending lots of time with RMF’s project beneficiaries and the communities at large in the villages we work in.  A few weeks ago as I was visiting the village of “Medzen Ayrum” in the Alaverdi region of Armenia, I met with the family who takes care of the chapel built in my late cousin, Hovig Saghdejian’s memory.


photo: The young man who’s spirit connected the dots in making this good deed come to pass

Hovig was a young activist and humanitarian who touched the lives of so many sowing in good deeds both at home in the US and overseas in Armenia.  On July 14, 2004, at the very young age of 23, Hovig’s tragic accident robbed him from us way too soon…


photo: 12-year old Nora Faramazyan

However, although no longer with us physically, I am convinced that Hovig’s spirit still leads people to do good in this world.  While in “Medzen Ayrum” visiting his chapel, I met twelve year old Nora Faramazyan,  a paraplegic from birth.  Nora had waited eleven long years to finally receive a wheelchair last year.  She suffers from severe spasticity and contractures due to her disability.  Four years ago, Hovig’s good friend and a devout supporter of RMF, Shant Minas had sponsored Nora with a month- long physical therapy session at the Yerevan Rehabilitation Hospital.  And that was the last time Nora ever saw a doctor or a therapist.  She visits Hovig’s chapel daily praying and asking God for the miracle to ambulate and she dreams of having the touch of a therapist on her rigid muscles again… but alas… she says… we don’t have money…


photo: Nairy with Nora and her two sisters, Kristine and Milena

Deeply touched by this young girl’s faith, I shared her photo and medical needs on Facebook.  Within a few hours, I received a call from my good friend Sara and her husband Arman pledging  in the name of their 7 months old daughter Anjelina Pegruhi Demir to sponsor Nora’s six therapy sessions (3 weeks per session) for the next twelve months.


photo: Nora lighting a candle at Hovig’s chapel

Real Medicine Foundation will secure Nora’s transportation to Yerevan, hospitalization and rehabilitation services, made possible by Anjelina’s $1,200 donation.  Stella Arzumanyan, RMF’s project coordinator will personally escort Nora from Medzen Ayrum to Yerevan and follow through with her medical care.

On behalf of 12-year old Nora Faramazyan and the Real Medicine Foundation, I would like to thank our youngest humanitarian and benefactor Ms. Anjelina Pegruhi Demir for bringing the gift of hope and healing to Nora’s life and for Hovig’s undying spirit in connecting the dots and making yet another good deed come to pass.

If you are interested in donating to our Armenia projects, please visit the "We are Shinuhayr" fundraising page or here.

For more information on our Armenia projects, visit our Armenia initiative page.

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