As we approach the anniversary of Sonia’s tragic death, we wish to share the words of those who knew Sonia. This letter from Greg Mortenson touched us deeply, coming from a man who had the same dream as Sonia and realized it so profoundly.
“Iram and family,
Asalaam-o-Alaikum. Tara (my wife), Amira, Khyber Khan and myself offer our profound condolences on your tragic loss of Sonia. There is no greater bond than that between mother and child, and no greater loss than to lose your child, for which no words adequately suffice to. God sometimes chooses those who are most dear to us, to be his special angels to watch over us, and I know dear Sonia is amongst those. Our daily prayers are with you, and in the midst of this pain, we hope that you have some comfort in remembering the happy and precious times you shared.
When a child or young adult shows the courage and tenacity to be a humanitarian to serve others, that I believe is one of the finest examples of what a parent can be proud of. Sonia certainly was a leader of her peers, who at a young age, and in a chaotic world of mostly self centered youth, had a vision and did not hesitate to put her big heart into action to make a difference with the Kulsoom Foundation, and the children of Kangra. The note that Sonia wrote during a difficult time last year was tremendously inspiring and we should make sure her vision succeeds. Over the last week, I’ve looked at her pictures a few times, and when I see the girls and children sitting on the earthen verandah, it brings tears to my eyes and a conviction that we should do all we can to make sure her dream is realized.
With our love and sympathy,
Greg, Tara, Amira & Khyber”