When your wife has been sentenced to 12 years of hard labor in a North Korean prison camp, missing her phone call leaves you emotionally wrecked. Missing that phone call, when you have only spoken to her three times in the 4 months that she has been detained, is a precious, lost opportunity. That’s what happened to my friend Michael Saldate, husband to Euna Lee.
The thing is that these days, Michael cannot afford to give in to his own emotions. Instead he has to remain purely focused on the wellbeing of his and Euna’s 4-year-old-daughter, Hana. Hana misses her mom desperately and does not understand why she has not returned from her business trip. At least once a day, she breaks down crying for her mommy.
This past weekend, Hana, Michael and Euna’s sister, Jina, joined us in Disneyland for my daughter’s fifth birthday. It was a privilege to have little Hana cavorting and playing alongside my daughter as they ran from one ride to the next. Hana has an angel’s soul. She is gentle and playful, thoughtful and energetic, and like most children her age clearly has her father and aunt wrapped around her little finger! It was Hana’s first time to Disneyland, and she was determined to meet some Princesses. As we rode through it’s a Small World, she squealed with delight with each new section. Her enthusiasm is infectious and my own five year old would now seem to have a life-long playmate well intact.
Days like these for Hana are important ones, brief moments that she can escape a reality, that even while she may not fully intellectually process, certainly is taking its emotional toll on her. For Michael, no such a luck. There is no relief from the agony that he and Laura Ling’s family (Euna’s imprisoned colleague) are facing. The rollercoaster of hope and despair is exhausting – Michael described to us how his body intermittently collapses from all the stress. The prior morning, he literally found himself paralyzed in bed, unable to get up. Fortunately, Gina was able to watch Hana as Michael slowly reclaimed his strength and recovered.
Last week was a hard one – as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and North Korean officials traded barbs attacking one another. Words are powerful, and in this case they may have real consequences on the fate of real people, Euna and Laura. Fortunately this week is looking a bit more hopeful. According to accounts, the North Korean government is requesting direct talks with the US government on a host of issues, including the resolution of the fate of Laura and Euna. We have our fingers crossed, but are accustomed now, 4 months later, to the peaks and valleys that sadly define this nightmare.
Based on what he knows from press accounts, briefings by the US State Department and his limited correspondences with Euna in the last 4 months, Michael believes that Euna and Laura are currently being held in a Medical Detention Facility. Indications are that Laura’s pre-existing medical condition (an ulcer) has worsened, and Euna has lost a lot of weight while also having pains in her abdominal region. Michael is confident that his wife and Laura are being treated “fairly,” and have not been transported to the infamous North Korean labor camps as their sentence deems – for that he is very grateful to her captors.
Fortunately, even after missing Michael, Euna was able to connect with her sister Jina. She asked Jina to be there for Hana while she was away, no matter how long this dreadful predicament lasts. Jina says that it’s clear that Euna aches for her daughter, and is more worried about her than for herself. Any mother can relate. Similarly, Laura Ling in her communication with hers sister, Lisa Ling, has been more concerned about her parents’ and family’s welfare than her own. Curious how the human mind copes, how hope twists itself around concern, how suffering is perhaps easier to endure when one places their own attention outside of themselves. God bless Euna Lee and Laura Ling for having the strength to endure the unimaginable. The world could learn a lot by following their lead.
This is not just about Hana needing her mom back. This is about broken families. Husbands and wives torn apart (including Laura’s husband Iain who is equally devastated), sisters, parents, friends all wandering around in the fog of geopolitics, frayed diplomacy, juvenile gamesmanship and emotional terror.
Back to that missed phone call. Euna actually left Michael a specific message on his voice mail. She requested her husband reach out to moms, sensing that they may relate uniquely to her situation. She’s right: every mother instinctively can empathize with the notion of being separated from their child. It’s a gut-wrenching emotion, the worst type of helplessness that can completely physically, emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically overwhelm. To that end, I am personally committed to honoring Euna’s request – to reach out to as many moms as I can to mobilize their efforts in bringing Euna and Laura home as promptly as possible.
I am hopeful that no less than our Nation’s “First Mom” Michelle Obama, a powerful and passionate role model for millions, can add to the choir formally requesting Amnesty for these two young women who have now apologized for whatever crimes they may have committed.
Here are two specific things we can do to help Euna and Laura, and their families.
Sign the petition for Amnesty for Laura Ling and Euna Lee. If you have signed it already, please pass it on to others that you know – friends, colleagues, classmates, mommy groups, church members, etc.
Write to Michelle Obama to get involved and make a statement asking that Euna and Laura be granted Amnesty. You can write to her at:
Mrs. Michelle Obama
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington D.C. 20500
Honestly, your active participation – even if just signing the petition or sending the letter to Michelle Obama – helps the family and the girls know that they are supported and their story not forgotten. It also influences the Administration to know that we are all relying on them to make Euna and Laura’s release a priority. On behalf of Michael, the families of both Euna and Laura, and all of their friends and supporters, we are eternally grateful.
Please Sign the Petition for Amnesty for Laura Ling and Euna Lee
For more information about Laura and Euna and how you can help please go to – http://www.lauraandeuna.com
For updates on the situation please follow @LiberateLaura and @FreeLauraEuna
Related Articles:
- These (agonizing) Days
- Michael Jackson and Kim Jong Il
- Euna Lee – Still A Mom in Captivity
- What Have You Done in the Last 114 Days?
- Laura Ling & Euna Lee – A Foreign Policy Crisis
- Obama and North Korea – Not Too Much to Ask
- Intend the Return of Laura Ling and Euna Lee
- Sign the Petition to Free Laura Ling and Euna Lee
From one Mother…..I am heartbroken at the prospect of Laura Ling and Euna Lee not being with the respective families. I will be writing our First Lady and strongly encourage all of you to join in as well. Our media is in inundated with trivial matters and I am appalled that this story is not in the forefront!
With much respect,
Michelle :~)
What a wonderful idea, to bring this issue to Michelle Obama's attention–from a mother to a mother. I truly hope everyone in the Intent community and beyond will continue to sign the petition and do everything possible to bring these two brave women back home safely to their families.
Mallika, thank you for sharing and for keeping this squarely in our hearts and minds. Reading this piece was heart ache enough; it's unimaginable what these families are going through. I have signed the petition and will write to Michelle. Thank you (and Euna) for suggesting this course.
I think Euna's and Laura's families can take comfort in the proven truth that people who have loving families and communities, loved ones they feel obliged to survive for, are the ones who survive traumatic situations with their lives, or simply with their wits about them. People who have a reason to survive feel obliged to stay strong so they can return home to their loved ones and community.
Thanks for article
http://liujiaoourhealth.blogspot.com
I have sent my e-mails but wanted you all to know that the President has a comment line that you can call and express your concerns to. The number is:
202-456-1111
I see no reason why comments for Michelle Obama can't be left there as well.
Wendy I.
Kitchener, Ontario Canada
Thanks for your thoughtful post. I did wonder about how effective this particular petition would be though. First of all, I doubt if the North Korean government would take it seriously because of it's wording. In fact, it might sound offensive to them. Also, I don't know if amnesty is appropriate in this situation. Amnesty is defined as being more than a pardon as it erases all record of the offense, which is something I don't think North Korea would be open to. A good alternative might be clemency, which is a reduction of the sentence without forgiving the offense.
dearest mallika,
thanks for this beautiful, heart touching post. my prayers are with them and all innocent prisoners.
Wish you love, peace and happiness.
Trisha
Hi Mailika , Great heartwarming post
LOL,
Ed (& Deb)
Thank you so much for taking an active role in bringing light to this horrible situation, Mallika. It is acting from this place of empathy that allows for true transformation. Thank you for bringing such light into this very dark situation. I will help out in the ways you mentioned above – please let me know if I can do anything else! Much Love,
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?stor…
this is good news, yes? Bill Clinton will make it happen…
What a awesome 6 hour, thankyou to Dave and all the crew at Roudtuit Caravan park for all the work that went to running this event, well worth marking in the dairy for next yearZayıflama Lida Fx15 ve Biber Hapı zlfvbh burmeh yaza lida fx15 biber hapı ile formda girin burmeh yaza lida fx15 biber hapı ile formda girin Trakya Üniversitesi tabiii en önemliside bize baya bi para getirecek. his family and particularly the children he had artificially created will be happier and far better off without him, not to mention wealthier. Remember and play his music if you want..it was pretty good but don't for get what an absolute failure as man he was. He dies a whiny drug addicted loser.. Save your sorrow for someone worthy