LA Times:An astonishing story of a Sudanese family reunited after 18 years

[Nothing Without Hope]

In this time of fear and tragedy, the story of this war-ravaged family demonstrates the power of holding onto hope. The odds against survival, let alone reunion, were unimaginably high, yet because the sons refused to give up, the "impossible" finally did happen.

This is a long article, and when you've read what this family went through in the war and all the years of their separation, you'll be inspired by their strength, courage and love.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-lostmom11aug11,1,1925002.story?coll=la-headlines-world
August 11, 2005
latimes.com : World News
THE WORLD

Severed by War, a Mother and Son Share a Moment Beyond Emotion

Anok Mangong had long believed her boys were dead. Years later, she is proved wrong.
By Edmund Sanders, Times Staff Writer

NAIROBI, Kenya

(snip)

Eighteen years ago, Arab marauders attacked Mangong's tribal village in southern Sudan, scattering her terrified family into the bush. Seven days later, Mangong crept back to her hut to find her husband's decomposing body and no sign of her youngest boys, Benson, 7, and Alepho, 5.

She eventually found her five other children. But the two boys never returned.

"My sons are dead," she told herself.

(snip)

Help arrived one day from a stranger who approached the family and offered to fly Mangong to Kenya for treatment. But the biggest surprise was who was behind the mysterious assistance: her long-lost sons.

(snip)

This story reminded me of Cindy Sheehan's vigil at Camp Casey. Though there can be no happy reunion, the strength, courage and love of this woman for her son are making history. In fact, the same issue of the LA Times has the most positive major media story on Cindy Sheehan that I have yet seen:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2000891
Thread title: LA Times:"Mother's Protest at Bush's Doorstep Raises the Stakes" GOOD!!!

I strongly recommend both these articles.

[ahem]

1. Just finished reading it...

Beautiful story. It's horrible that they lost so many years they should have shared, but it's amazing that they found each other.

[Nothing Without Hope]

2. This is worth reading. kick n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

3. kick n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

4. kick - this is really worth reading, and there are parallels with Cindy

Sheehan in demonstrating he power of parent-child love in the face of grief and war.

[Nothing Without Hope]

5. kick n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

6. I really wish more people would read this amazing story. n/t

[Mnemosyne]

7. Nothing, that is a beautiful story! I

really appreciate you sharing it. It's great to hear a good-ending nowadays.

Thanks!
:hug:

[Nothing Without Hope]

8. YVW. And my DU friends call me Hope!

:hug:

[Mnemosyne]

10. Hi Hope, Vicki here!

Glad to see a couple more read the story. So many sad things here at times.

Here's a :kick:

:hug:

[Nothing Without Hope]

11. kick - wondering if I should repost. I do think this is a story that more

people would gain from reading. It shows what war really is and also how sometimes love and hope can win. But there will be no happy homecoming for Cindy Sheehan.

[Mnemosyne]

12. Everyone seems pretty caught up with Cindy, but you can try

to repost, it's a great story Hope!

:kick: :kick:

[understandinglife]

9. Benson melted into his mother's arms. "It was the moment of a lifetime,"

If only that could happen for Cindy and Casey ... if only we had a President instead of a heartless war criminal leading America ...


Peace.

[Nothing Without Hope]

13. This story is just too good to ignore. This is about war and about love

and it's as real in both as it is humanly possible to be.