TESTIMONY
It has been twenty years since Jeanine has had any news of her children because of a financial mess. Now aged 80, she would like to reconnect with one of her daughters and her twenty-year-old granddaughter. Feeling alone, Jeanine wanted to call them, but the numbers are no longer assigned. She confides her grief to Olivier Delacroix and asks him for advice, at the microphone of "La Libre antenne", on Europe 1.
>> Listen to Jeanine's testimony in full here
"I am an 80-year-old lady. What bothers me is that I have three children and nobody calls me. I am all alone in low-income housing. I live with a poor retirement. I do not complain because that there’s worse than me, but it’s hard to live with. Ten years ago, I asked my children to help me a little because the rents were very expensive and I couldn’t live decently. I gave up. I wanted to call my kids, but the numbers are no longer assigned. I haven't heard from my kids for almost twenty years.
" I just want my daughter to call me "We were traders. My husband lived his life very well. I got married at 17, he was ten years older than me. He took advantage of me. When I realized it was wrong, I divorced. I had no money. He took advantage of everything. I have worked all my life. I have worked 25 years with my husband and 43 years of my life in all. Before leaving, I just want my daughter to call me. It is the only happiness that I ask.
My ex-husband still has money. My children are on his side. My daughter speaks seven languages and my son four. My other daughter worked in banks. They are brains. I sent them to the United States to do extraordinary things. I wanted to make beautiful children. I am from a daughter of miners. With us, we worked. He was a brave man and so was I. We could have done wonderful things.
>> Find Olivier Delacroix's Free Antenna in replay and podcast here
If my husband had declared 25 years of work, I would not ask my children for help and I might have my granddaughter. I have a 20 year old granddaughter. She doesn't give me news. My daughter looks a lot like me. She is courageous, she has a lot of dignity. I hope my granddaughter takes care of her mom and us. I am not angry with my daughter, but it is my son who makes his own.
I have a sister who lives in Creuse. Our mother is 98 years old. She made us sweat all our lives. My sister doesn't give me news either. I have been in the 85 for ten years, I am 25 km from the sea. I am very happy to live here, but I am alone. I find myself all alone in an HLM. No one is talking to you. No one is helping you. "