“Previous letter from Jean Sasson”
I would like to wish
each and every one of the readers of my books a healthy and
prosperous 2004. If you care enough to buy and read the kind of
books I write, then I know you are a caring individual. Please
know that I enjoy your notes and letters and read each one.
Unfortunately, I don't have the pleasure of ample time to be able
to answer each letter, and for that, I am sorry.
I'm also sad to say
that 2003 was not a very good year for me. So many of you have
written to tell me that my elderly Mom was in your prayers. I
thank you for that. I'm in tears when I tell you that my Mom died
on November 15th at 7:52 PM. It was a big shock to me because Mom
had been doing wonderfully, happily living with me. (I was doing
everything in my power to keep her out of a nursing home.) Mom
woke up smiling each morning, knowing that she was with a daughter
who loved her dearly. I sat with her while she enjoyed her eggs &
grits, the only thing I can cook! I bought her a special new
wheel chair that was very light (only 11 pounds) and I could lift
that chair and put it in the car trunk and take her with me
everywhere I went. I took her to marvelous Atlanta restaurants,
yet her favorite was a little barbecue place that was simple in
every way. I'm not much of a television person, but I do enjoy
the Animal Channel and the Discovery Channel and each day Mom and
I would watch the animal shows and specials on the Discovery
Channel. We enjoyed a lot of laughs watching those cute kittens
and puppies. I truly believed I would be lucky enough to have my
Mom with me another four or five years. Then one morning Mom
awoke complaining about a rash on her head. I believed that her
new sheets had a chemical in them, causing the problem. Then the
next day the rash developed into blisters and I knew we were in
trouble. Mom had developed shingles on her head and face, the
most painful place to have them. (Anyone who has ever had chicken
pox has a 30% chance of developing shingles before they die.)
From that point it was all downhill. Mom was in a lot of pain,
and at age 85, it is difficult to fight off any illness.
At this same time, my
Iraqi friend, Mayada Al-Askari, arrived to travel on book tour for
my latest book: Mayada, Daughter of Iraq. I'm sorry to say that
poor Mayada never got to see much of America, as she remained with
me in hospital rooms with Mom. Mayada was a loving and devoted
friend through this difficult time. Happily, Mom got a little
better and other family members pitched in to help with her, so
Mayada and I dashed off to do a little touring. We were honored
to speak at West Point, where we were introduced to the most
impressive young men and women I've ever met. We were guests on
several FOX and MSNBC Shows, where Mayada told viewers her
harrowing tale of life under Saddam. Then we went to London, to
tour for the book there. After London we planned to go to Iraq
and make an attempt to find the shadow women who had been in Cell
52 with Mayada. This was not to be. While we were in London, and
just before we departed for Iraq, Mom suffered a stroke. I
stopped my work plans and rushed back to the States. Thank
goodness I did, for Mom died shortly after I returned. But, I was
with her at her passing and although it was difficult, I couldn't
have been anywhere else.
Now I'm trying to get
over the depression of losing a parent. When I was not with Mom,
I called her every day, so I often find myself reaching for the
phone to tell her my news. So, if you are lucky enough to have
your parents with you, make the most of your time, for you never
know what will happen.
Now to other news: So
many of you write to let me know that you have read MAYADA to tell
me what the book means to you. I treasure these letters and I
pass them on to Mayada, who treasures them as well. (I also pass
on the letters to Sultana that concern her life.)
So many of you ask
about the shadow women. Mayada and I now plan on trying to find
the shadow women sometime in the Spring. Whatever we discover, I
will post it on this web site. We are praying for happy endings,
but fear that few of the women survived. We have heard that most
of the prisoners in Iraq were executed right before the war
started. IF those wonderful women are alive, we hope to bring
their stories alive in a sequel to MAYADA. If anyone
deserves recognition, it is the courageous shadow women of Cell
52, women who put each other before their individual needs, even
as they were being tortured by Saddam's cruel prison guards.
Once again, I thank
each and every one of your for your heartfelt letters. I hope you
keep writing to me, to Mayada, and to Sultana.
Here are my wishes for
2004: I'm hoping and praying that all dictators and repressive
monarchies will lose their power, because such governments bring
nothing but misery to their own people. I'm hoping and praying
that the women of Saudi Arabia, and women of every country,
will have the opportunity to embrace the rights to make their own
choices. I'm hoping and praying that the people of Iraq will keep
their "eye on the prize" and work diligently for a democratic
government that will suit their culture. I'm hoping and praying
that no more life will be lost in Iraq. Enough blood has been
spilled in that country to last several centuries. I'm hoping and
praying that there will be peace in the Holy Land. Hopefully 2004
will be the year that the Israeli and Palestinian leaders can find
a peaceful solution to the ongoing violence. And that their
people will follow them to peace.
I hope everyone joins
me in praying for worldwide peace, and that every human being will
know the joy of a life lived in freedom and dignity.
Happy reading my friends, Jean Sasson
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