Zaruhi Mejlumyan, Hrant Galstyan

Stella Haroutyunyan is a 39 year-old single mom struggling to raise five children in the Etchmiadzin area village of Artimet.

Her husband left to work in Russia seven years ago and hasn’t returned.

Stella makes do with a monthly social benefits allowance issued by the Paros program of 52,000 AMD (US$110) and her father-in-law’s pension.

She married Hayk Gharabaghyan, an Artsakh War vet, in 1997 when she was 20. To find work, the family relocated to the Russian city of Podolsk and three of the boys – Davit, Derenik and Artyom – were born there.

After the family moved back to Armenia, Hayk returned to Russia. Stella says he now has three kids after moving in with a Russian woman.

Stella, then with four kids, tracked Hayk down in an attempt to keep the family together. The attempt was futile even though the couple lived under one roof for a while. Six months pregnant with her fifth child, Stella returned to Armenia.

“With the boys, I don’t sow any bad seeds about their father. I always tell them he’s their parent. As unbelievable as it may seem, I hold no animosity in my heart towards him. If he returns, I’ll accept him. But I don’t want his three kids there to go without a father,” Stella says.

Two of the boys, Artyom and Derenik, are now in a summer camp in Hankavan for eight days. Artyom is enrolled in a music school and is learning to play the piano and duduk. Derenik goes to a painting club. Stella shows us his handiwork – pictures on scarves. The family has tried to sell them, giving them to stores. They were all returned and have been gifted to friends and family.

Stella says she never dreamt about having a girl. “I’d never want to have a girl. So that she would see my torments,” she says.

Her eldest, 17 year-old Davit, used to work and thus supported the family. “He’d work in the field and other odds and ends. He’d put the money near my pillow or in my bag. Then he was diagnosed with acute leukemia,” Stella says, adding that they he needs periodic blood transfusions. Stella says that there are times when the hospital doesn’t have enough blood on hand and that a call for donors has to be made.

Davit is studying computer programming at Etchmiadzin College. Before becoming ill he did part-time work downloading programs and games and conducting online transactions.

But now, to work from home, Davit needs a personal computer. He’d also use a computer to hone his computer skills and to learn foreign languages not taught at the college.

“I wasn’t expecting your visit. True, it’s tough raising five kids, one of which is sick. On top of its all, we don’t own this house. My husband’s brothers can return from Russia and kick us out. But I’ve always thought that there are others out there in worse shape than us. Thank God we have a roof over our heads and that I’m with my children.”

“My only dream, my aim, is that my Davit, and the others, are healthy and grow up to be good people,” Stella says.

Photos and video: Davit Banouchyan