THE JOURNEY OF ANNA WUSZTER
Anna was eventually to marry the partner who came with her from Poland but she soon found herself in an abusive situation. She escaped the marriage with nothing. She and her son, Gracjan, were essentially out on the streets but are now sheltered in temporary housing provided by the Chicago Abused Women’s Coalition. Although still suffering constant pain and facing the prospect of more surgeries, Anna is anxious to work and is ready to start taking computer courses. She is concerned about her son’s future since he would be all alone in the world if anything happened to her. The twoof them have only each other.
At 14, Gracjan is a sweet, quiet and intelligent child, completely devoted to his mother and her needs. It is worth mentioning that during the worst period of Anna’s struggle, Gracjan was diagnosed with Perthe’s Disease, a disorder that affects the hip joint causing extreme pain and the inability to walk. During his 3-year recovery Anna took care of him night and day while bravely fighting her own battle. This dedicated son wrote a plaintive letter to Oprah Winfrey seeking some kind of help for his mother. His closing line is heartrending: “Please help my mother so we can stay together. I need her and she needs me more than ever.” Sadly, Oprah did not respond to the boy’s plea, nor did she respond to a follow up letter sent to her by Mr. Tye.
Anna and her son carry on courageously, still in sheltered care
but hoping for better circumstances ahead.
- William Feather, oft quoted historian
