14 October 2012

Once Upon a Time Near Damascus....



... this is what happened. This is a difficult story about an ordinary, courageous man who lived against tremendous odds in a place you have probably never seen.  It is a story that will break your heart as it is still breaking mine.

On January 30, 2012, we awoke to the terrible news that our niece's father had been assassinated in Syria. A gentle man dedicated to bringing babies safely into this world, the doctor probably should have left Homs sometime in the ten months prior as the instability and danger in Syria developed. But even with the urging of his family to get out before the civil unrest escalated, he remained there, because his patients needed him. 

He had been secretly visiting homes of the wounded to treat them in safely.. and he had been helping treat others at the local Red Crescent Hospital, even when other doctors had stopped because of the danger...but on this morning something was different. He received a call to come immediately to the hospital for an emergency, so he went downstairs to his car to drive to the hospital. There he was met by three gunmen who shot him at close range. The shots were heard by his wife and son in the apartment, and his son ran downstairs to find his father had been murdered by the Assad regime, simply for being a doctor






The story began in far happier times when our nephew, studying Middle Eastern culture and languages, spent a few years post-Yale living and learning in Damascus, the cradle of civilization. While there, in arguably one of the word's most romantic cities, he met the love of his life in the beautiful and brilliant young linguist and art professor. A fairy-tale wedding (two actually... one in Homs and one in New York) followed soon after. We spent several wonderful days together as a family in New York, and we loved this gentle doctor's kindness. We loved his beautiful Ukranian wife with her artistic sensibilities and soulful gaze, and were so happy to welcome them into our large, extended family. 

The grief and shock of his death is still palpable, too tender to even talk about. His widow and son were quickly brought to safety here, but must go on living without him. The rupture and loss in their lives is inconceivable to most of us. In the middle of all the busy-ness that our lives have become, a day does not go by that I don't think about what it must be like for his widow to wake up to the sunshine only to  remember suddenly what has happened. 





I am looking into my artistic soul to find ways to connect with his widow and to try to do what I can to  help her. She is a wonderfully talented seamstress; I am an interior designer who loves (covets and hoards?) fabrics of all kinds. She has a sewing machine and I want to work with her to create wonderful pillows out of my stash of antique, vintage and wonderful fabrics. I envision pieced-together pillow covers with trims that tie together the disparate fabrics, much like the life she will have to create for herself in this new land. 




So this is where my spirit has been for these last nine months. I met with a very good friend Saturday who is also a blogger and who is a very wise soul. She urged me to write about this for my blog. I was very hesitant to do so because my blog has always been a "place for people to get away from the everydayness of life and take a little vacation" and about the joy in beautiful things and journeys, but she assures me that it is exactly the thing I need to do. 

The world became a far darker place for my family and although I know there is light to which we should all turn, I also know that it takes time. I just wanted you to know what we've been going through.

I ask you my dear readers for your patience as I find my way back, but I especially ask for your prayers for those of my family who are closest to the kind doctor... his wife, his son, his daughter, his son-in-law... that they can find  some peace in their souls for their searing loss. And that the ongoing nightmare in Syria comes to an end soon. 














Old black and white images are from the Library of Congress;
I selected them because they show Damascus in happier times...


the few decades after the turn of the last century 


before the French Mandate began in 1920. 
I think they evoke a sense of innocence and simplicity which is
being lost every day now in Syria. 





thanks for visiting... Kit


17 comments:

  1. We often read about killings such as this in the press. They are quite common and the Syrian government has been killing doctors (and their patients!) in hospitals for many months now.

    My point being that although we read the facts relatively few Westerners are directly affected by them, which is why your story hits home hard. My thoughts go to all those in your family and anyone else who know this highly courageous man.

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    1. Thank you Fripouille for your kind words about the doctor and his courage... xo Kit

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  2. I am so very sorry to hear all this. I see these things on the news and it always shocks me to see the level of cruelty humans are capable of inflicting on each other. However, sitting in a western country far away brings with it a sense of detachment. To read such a heartbreaking story first hand is far more personal and disturbing...

    I hope his widow and family can find some sort of peace in time and your project sounds like a beautiful way of making a bit of a difference.

    Sorry, I don't know what else to say... My thoughts are with you all xo

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    1. Bonjour MP... thanks so much for visiting.. and for your encouragement about the project.. and for your kind thoughts... Kit

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  3. Hello Kit! I' m so sorry to hear this, there is so much war and bad blood in the world! Best wishes for the family and also for you! Geli

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  4. Dear Geli thanks so much for your very kind wishes... Kit

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  5. My heart is heavy upon reading this. I cannot the imagine the depths of despair his family has visited. The world was a better place because of this dear man. Shout his story to the rooftops! He lived!

    One of my dearest friends was murdered several years ago, at the Lane Bryant store in Tinley Park, IL, along with four other women. The police never found her killer. I don't know why, but I would hover over her name on my cell phone list, thinking that maybe...just maybe...she would answer if I called. I never deleted her number. Every time I come across it I think of her and her beautiful smile. She has, in a way, become a part of all who loved her and she will never really be gone from this world.

    Your family will be in my prayers.
    Please, let his story inspire others to do good. Never hesitate to tell it!

    xo

    Andie

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  6. Dear Kit-


    Blessings to you and your family.
    I love the idea of the widow (such a heavy word) sewing and mending her spirit, and creating lovely things and finding her way back...with your kind guidance.
    thank you DIANE

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  7. I can think of nothing more healing than stitching lovely old fabrics to create something new, except maybe gardening: all the simple constructive daily tasks which quietly and stubbornly refute hatred and violence. One step at a time, and honouring his courage.

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  8. I came back to say that if there is ANYTHING I can do to help I am more than eager to do so.

    xo

    Andie

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  9. I think it is good that you shared this story. Yes, it is very sad... I have included the family in my prayers, and I do hope they will be able to feel peace and comfort amidst their sorrow.

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  10. Thank you for telling this heartbreaking story. War is hell--and we must not forget that. It is far too easy to discuss war options rather than peace options--without remembering that wars are filled with horrible cruelty and heartbreak.

    Your positive idea will brighten this tragedy.

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  11. I am so sorry to hear about this calamity, which is sadly repeated so often throughout our world today. My heart goes out to your family and the doctor's wife especially. We can take comfort in the Bible's hope of a resurrection one day, and our lost ones are restored to us. (John 5:28, 29). Take heart, and your idea of creating the pillows is a splendid one, I wish you all the best with it.

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  12. Thank you to all... your kindnesses are greatly appreciated, as is the encouragement for the pillows project! Hope your weekend is going well..

    best

    Kit

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  13. Fresh Thyme Design Studio -Terri Godfrey04 November, 2012

    I think the doctor will always be remembered for exactly who he was: a devoted, spirited healer who did his best every day for people who needed him. Though the lives of his wife and son have been devastated by his loss, it will also be the thing that spurs them on to greater things: to create beauty in the world, to rise above and be more because of how the doctor/husband/father touched/loved each of them. Prayers/condolences to the family.

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  15. This has shocked me to the core. Such as senseless and sick act. The world has given a stage to nutters who will align themselves with a "cause" in order to justify their sick way of thinking and being. These cowards distort and ignore the truth. My heart goes out to your nephews immediate and extended family.

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I would love to hear what you think! merci!

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