FAMILY OF BOJANA AND IVAN ZIHA DESPITE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS BECOME PARENTS
05.07.2011
Minister Associate of Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Vladimir Pesic, as part of activities to help people with disabilities who become parents, with representatives of municipalities of Nis, Zorica Stojiljkovic, a member of the Council of City Municipality of Palilula and Novica Simic, Head of Municipal Administration of CM Medijana, visited the family Ziha, in the Nis neighborhood “Duvaniste” and gift to the youngest family member, to small Milica. Gifts are shared donation of ministry and city municipalities Palilula and Medijana.Bojana (35) and Ivan (32) Ziha from Nis despite in addition to suffering from multiple sclerosis, they opted for the offspring and two months ago in their house in the street Radoja Dakica at No. 35 it can be heard cry of small Milica.

Right on St. George's by caesarean mother Bojana gave a birth to small Milica. And all this would not be so unusual that mom Bojana and dad Ivan at this step are not chosen even though suffering from multiple sclerosis for more than ten years. Mom Bojana, although reluctant about the story, risked her own life to fulfill the dream of which she had so long dreamed. According to the Ljilja Stankovic Bojana's mother, even in primary school Bojana has come up with names for her babies. Even then she knew that the girl will be named Milica. A baby in the family Ziha is the reason of visit of Vladimir Pesic, Minister Associate of Ministry of for Labour and Social Policy, who yesterday visited the small Milica and her parents. And as it happens in a family which got a baby, from Ministry arrived many gifts. Together with the Minister Associate family Ziha visited and representatives of Association of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis in Nis, and representatives of city municipalities Medijana and Palilula.

Visit to the Ziha family is part of the action by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy carried out in the territory of Serbia and which last already for one year and half, said Minster Associate Vladimir Pesic. This is the second visit to Nis for a year and I am happy about that. Otherwise, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy in such actions wish to support young couples with disabilities in their decision to have offspring and to become a family. They, like all other young people in the country have the right to live a quality life and that means to enable them to enjoy their heirs. It is important the gifts that on this occasion we gift to them because we know how it is when a baby is born. This is a huge blow to the family budget so we want to give a little help. Ziha family assistance is very welcome because Bojana and Ivan live from theirs disability pensions that amount per month for 12,000 dinars. But they do not complain too much about it. Their thoughts last two months occupy only Milica. Since they race who will take her first. For them she is, as they say, a seal of their love, and she was born on the beautiful day of St. George. Bojana and I know one it other a little bit longer, but we are together only three years, says Ivan. I am by the way, from Sombor, and Bojana I met thanks to the cooperation of our associations. Sometimes we came here, sometime they visited us. So it all began, and ended up like this. I was just happy for Milica. When she grows up a little, I will take her to fishing and I will teach her how to make the stew from Vojvodina.

Mom Bojana already tried to teach her to eat in same time, but he says that does not go so well because Milica imposed her rhythm of life. Not even a single second I have not hesitated when I decided to give birth to Milica, although I knew that it could be problems says Bojana. We knew that we want a child and so it was. Now we are overjoyed. And if family Ziha will become richer for another new baby, time will tell. For now, all attention is given to small Milica.

According to Vesela Stojkovic from Association of patients with multiple sclerosis,Nis has about twenty couples who are disabled. The Association supports all those people and their decision to have children says Vesela Stojkovic. We also have a family with twins. Especially the younger members of our association decided to family life and it's a sure sign that something in this regard began to mend. Bojana and Ivan Ziha are still something shown exceptional courage and love for their Milica. On the give birth which took place at Nis Gynecology Obstetrics Clinic stem cells are taken. I did it as a precaution and fear no matter how much doctors tried to convince me that the illness with which my husband and I bear no genetic Bojana said. Thus we are secure, and stem cells are stored for 20 years in a German bank of stem cells. Then Milica itself will decide, as a donor, whether willing or not to continue saving. What was up to us, we have done. Support to their decision they have, as and similar families in Serbia, they had and from the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy.