Posted on 09/05/2004 3:23:33 PM PDT by dennisw
For the first time in 24 hours, Zalina Dzandarova stopped feeling dead inside Friday. She had her daughter back — covered with blood, and suffering from shock and dehydration. But alive.
A day earlier, hostage-takers had forced the 27-year-old mother of two to leave the sobbing 6-year-old behind at Middle School No. 1. Only if she abandoned Alana, they told her, could Dzandarova carry her 2-year-old son, Alan, with her to freedom.
Haunted by the choice, Dzandarova spent Thursday night imagining what was happening to Alana in the school gymnasium with about 1,000 other terrified children and parents. She blamed herself for her child's ordeal.
"I know that I will never be able to forget this," she said. "I will never be the same."
Alana told her mother that a fellow hostage, a 15-year-old boy, saved her from the gymnasium after the militants' explosives detonated and set it on fire.
"According to her, when the explosions sounded, she just hurled her arms around him and begged, 'Please don't leave me behind' " — the same words she had uttered to her mother 24 hours earlier.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
One note of redemption in this crisis even though the mother says she will be haunted for the rest of her life. Still this is redemption.
Thanks for this update on Alana. Haven't been able to stop thinking about this mothers ordeal since I read about it. What a blessing that her daughter survived after the choice she was forced to make.
These ignoramuses at the latimes can kiss my Royal English Ass!! I will never buy a paper from these prickish turds as long as I live...
TERRORIST, you fiddlefaddled, crap writing, left leaning, elitist opinionated, pansies!
I vaguely remember the movie: Sophie's Choice. Haunting.V's wife.
I've heard this movie mentioned in other threads about this. I think I need to rent it and watch....
bookmark bump
I think that's her. I was wondering when I first saw the picture after reading her story.
Thank God she got her daughter back alive. I don't think she would have been able to live with herself if the girl had died, even though it was not her fault. I'm very happy for her.
Is it just me, or do you see a striking "Madonna & Child" look about her? Reminds me of some Renaissance "Madonna & Child" painting or sculpture. I think it her raised hand and the way she's holding the little boy.
I DO hope that's her. The story has been haunting me for days.
Thank G-d, Thank G-d, Thank you G-d !
Oh thank God. My wife has been crying her eyes out over this story ever since she read it (we've got three little ones of our own).
I vividly remember Sophie's choice and it immediately came to mind...I am so thankful this mother was reunited with the child she had to leave..May God comfort and heal these traumatized survivors.
It does to me, too. I think it's because the boy is sitting up so straight in her arms. Lots of Madonna and Child paintings look like that.
If you read the rest of the article, it says that her daughter keeps wanting to talk about what happened, and she keeps cutting her off, telling her she doesn't want to hear about it, and to forget about it. I hope someone convinces her that if the girl wants to talk about it, then let her talk. After awhile she won't talk about it so much, and she'll start talking about other, more normal things. It's actually the best way to "forget" about it in the long run. She'll never really forget it, but it won't haunt her whole life, if she's allowed to express her feelings now.
This stuff is gut wrenching. I sure wish that Putin would call Bush and ask us to help him get even.
I hope the little girl and the mother can both come to peace with the horrible decision that the mother had to make.
Agreed. It's as if a candle has been lit in the midst of a long dark night.
Oh boy, do I know what THAT'S about! Been through a devastating earthquake, and four family deaths. I learned quickly that talking about it is the only cure. Even if other people don't want to hear it.
THANK GOD. I have been worrying about this child and her mother.
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