J Kimberly Cartis

A Story Worth Telling J Kimberly Cartis

This is a perspective in history unlike anything you've ever read or heard before. Four generations. One century of experiences. A Japanese WWII refugee, Setsuko was forced to flee with her young children after her husband's capture. She came across a starving enemy baby and voluntarily breastfed him to save his life. In exchange for her kindness, her life and the lives of her children were spared. The Chinese hid them and formed an underground railroad to reach the waterfront and escape-a journey of over two years. She experienced horrors that tested her strength. She also found love in the midst of tragedy, but her story doesn't end there. I've been hearing about these extraordinary events since I was a little girl. As I capture the details on paper, I am sitting at the kitchen table with Grandmom. Despite being a couple months shy of 97 years old, her mind is still sharp. The memories are difficult for her to relive. The depth of this layered story has touched the souls of all who hear it. Her choices triggered a chain of events that changed the course of history for my family. It's a story worth telling. And it's all true.