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Deya Ali: Dreams derailed
Aref Assaf
February, 19, 2010
I mourn the loss of my friend, Deya, who passed away in
Germany on February 18, 2010, after a series of
complications stemming from his long and brave fight to
recover from an Israeli bullet's shrapnel lodged in his
fragile body. In January 2003, I travelled to Jordan to
bring back to the US the then 15 years old youth to be
treated in NJ hospitals. Acting as his Legal Guardian, I
witnessed and shared in Deya's fight for life.
I am recalling my memory of Deya over the last seven years,
details of which are known only to very few. It is an
inspiring story even though fate has so untimely ended his
life dreams- and boy did he have dreams!
I will miss Deya and what he so inspiringly meant to my
family and myself. His zest for life has impacted the lives
of so many people and we owe him a thank-you for showing us
the unyielding determination to conquer one's weaknesses.
Below are links to news articles at wish you may want to
glance. I hope to soon recover from the shock of Deya's
passing to pen down my memories of him.
"Ammo" Aref Assaf
Aref Assaf stands by Deya'
Ali's bedside a day after his operation to reattach his
pancreas to his digestive tract. Assaf, who is Ali's
legal guardian while he is in the United States, is a
volunteer with the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund
and spends a great deal of time with the 15 year-old in
his hospital room. Saturday, January 18, 2003. Herald
News photo by, Kevin R. Wexler.
To see more of Deya's pictures, click
here
http://njppa.bravepages.com/njppa/january/pages/Multiple%204th%20Place%20D.htm
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