First and foremost, I want to thank my beautiful mother, Louwana, the strongest person I have ever known. She never gave up hope and fought for me with everything she had. I know she’s watching me now, and she knows I’m safe. I think about her every waking moment and miss her in ways I can’t put into words. It is because of her, and my beautiful sister Beth, that I never gave up hope. I owe them everything.
My mother and my sister were not the only ones who fought for me while I was gone. Our family was at their side, as were countless friends and supporters, including wonderful people like Judy Martin, Art McCoy, the DeJesus family, Pastor Dave Shinault, Bill Safos, Bill Martin, Regina Brett, and many more. People who came to the vigils, who prayed for me, who stayed at my mother’s side. People who never quit on me. I knew you were there. I saw what you were doing for me. You have no idea how important that was. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
I also want to thank the good people with Black on Black, the Polly Klaas Foundation, the BairFind Foundation, and Project Jason who supported my family so they did not have to fight alone. I would like to thank the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, not just for what they did for me and my family, but also for what they do for families everywhere. Thank you for the Hope Award, and an unforgettable trip to Washington.
I also am grateful to those police officers and investigators who worked to find me, including Detective Laura Parker, Detective Rich Russell, Detective Brian Heffernan, and FBI agents Phil Torsney, Tim Kolonik, and Andrew Burke. They—in particular, my friends Jennifer Meyers and Lisa Hack from the FBI—also helped my family and me after we were free. Thanks to you all.
After we escaped, there was an outpouring of support for me and my family from people I had never met. I was—and still am—completely blown away by the kindness of people who were complete strangers to me. Thank you to the people who created and donated to the Cleveland Courage Fund, and the numerous businesses that held fund-raisers for it. Your generosity has helped put me and my daughter on a path to a wonderful future. I also appreciate the numerous gifts and cards from people who sent messages of support. I have read and saved every single one.
I want to thank Mary and Russ Khouri, whose generosity amazes me. I wouldn’t have my house without them. I’m also grateful to the Milam family for all their support. And a very special thank you to George Sheikh, Paul Irwin, and every volunteer who make a house into our home. I cannot imagine more selfless and generous people.
Thank you to Northern Trust, Westgate Resorts, and to the Cleveland Clinic for all the dental and medical care.
Jim Wooley is one of the greatest friends I’ve ever made. He and his law firm, Jones Day, have given me their time and skills in a way that I can’t fully describe. There is nothing Jim hasn’t done for me and my family. He has helped us rebuild our lives. I’ll be forever grateful. I also want to thank the whole Wooley family, especially Deb and Joe, for their friendship, love, and totally selfless support. They are my family, too.
To our other wonderful lawyers, Heather Kimmel, Henry Hilow, Ben Beckman, and Chris Kelly, I want to tell you how much I appreciate your time, hard work, and pure hearts. You are all amazing.
Thank you to Charles Ramsey for helping me on that crazy day.
Thank you to Bob Barnett, Clare Ferraro, and all the wonderful people at Viking. I am grateful to Mary Jordan and Kevin Sullivan for helping me tell my story, for all the boxes of tissues, and becoming friends for life.
And finally, thank you to my friend and coauthor, Gina DeJesus. We are now living our lives the way we should!
—Amanda Berry
• • •
I want to thank my mother, Nancy Ruiz, and my father, Felix DeJesus, for never, ever giving up the search for me and for keeping hope alive. It is because of your love that I was strong enough and courageous enough to endure my decade away from you.
My parents did not have to wait alone. I’m so grateful for all my friends and family who provided love and support over the years—you are too numerous to name but you know who you are. Thank you especially to Judy Martin, who stood by my parents at every vigil, and to Bill Safos, who became a real friend to my family over the years. For all the prayers, I thank our family pastor and his wife, David and Carol Shinault. And I also appreciate the support of Mary Rose Oakar.
Thank you to those who brought awareness not just to my disappearance, but to missing children all over this country. Dennis Bair, founder of BairFind Foundation, thank you for your BringHome100 campaign and for being a friend to my parents. Tara Pretends Eagle Weber, thank you for helping my parents raise the level of public awareness of my disappearance, and for your efforts to promote the legislation that could become AMINA’s Law. Finally, thank you to the dedicated people at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children—for your work over the years and for giving me the Hope Award. It was a week I will always remember.
Over the years, many police officers and investigators were involved in my case. I appreciate all of your efforts, especially those of Phil Torsney, Tim Kolonick, and Andrew Burke of the FBI. Please don’t give up on all of the other missing children out there.
So many people stepped forward to help me and my family after I escaped. You all have my heartfelt gratitude—especially all of the people who created the Cleveland Courage Fund and donated money to it, and all the businesses that held fund-raisers. Your generosity is amazing and has helped me in ways that you cannot even imagine. I would especially like to thank my cousin Sylvia Colon, who was a calm voice in the midst of the craziness and acted as the spokesperson for my family; Charlene Milam, who taught me to drive, giving me a real sense of freedom; Margo Funk, for helping me to start to heal. Thank you to Betsy Martinez. And to Jennifer Meyers of the FBI, for her support and guidance. Also, thank you to the generous people at Westgate Resorts.
I want to express my gratitude to my lawyers for giving so generously of their time and resources and for never asking for anything in return. From helping me navigate the media storm after my escape to helping me find the right way to tell this story, their guidance has been instrumental. They are: James Wooley of Jones Day; Heather Kimmel of the Office of General Counsel of the United Church of Christ; and Henry Hilow, of McGinty, Hilow, & Spellacy.
I would also like to thank Robert Barnett and the good people at Viking for the chance to bring our story to an audience, and Mary Jordan and Kevin Sullivan for helping me to tell it with grace. I hope that it will inspire everyone who reads it.
And finally, I would like to thank my coauthor Amanda Berry. I look forward to many good days ahead.
—Gina DeJesus
• • •
Thank you, Amanda and Gina, for being so strong and honest and trusting us to help tell your stories. We are forever changed and better for knowing you, Jocelyn, Beth, Nancy, and Felix.
Jim Wooley’s support of Amanda and Gina has been wise, unfailing, and ferocious, and we are grateful to him for opening the door for us to this project, and for reminding us of the power of optimism, just as Patrick Jordan would. Pat, a champion of the underdog, would have loved Amanda and Gina.
Heather Kimmel and Henry Hilow and the whole Hilow-Ghazoul clan are the finest of people, as are the great Deb and Joe Wooley, and we are grateful for their help and friendship.
Thanks to Maestro Bob Barnett for putting it all together. Clare Ferraro, who brought this book to Viking, is such a pro and unforgettably kindhearted, and Rick Kot is nothing less than a brilliant editor.
At the Washington Post, huge thanks to Marty Baron, Cameron Barr, Tracy Grant, and David Griffin. We are extremely grateful to David Finkel for sharing his gift with words and ideas when we most needed it, and to our first readers, including Katharine Weymouth, Laurie Freeman, Mit Spears, Andy Burkhardt, Ray and Jennifer Billings, and Julie Jordan.
Thanks to Patti Davis at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children for her thoughtfulness and deep knowledge of the issues surrounding missing children. Thanks also to Maryanne Warrick for all her great work.
Muchas gracias to Sockie Colon, a gracious host in Puerto Rico, and to Antonio Rodriguez for leaving his Yauco factory to lead us up into the hills.
In Cleveland, a great American city, there are too many people to thank, including many from St. Joseph Academy; please know how grateful we are for your support. A special shout-out to Tom and Mary Ellen Jordan and Maggie and John Keaney, Sharon Sobol Jordan, and Dave Wallace, and all their fabulous kids. And thanks to Patrick Campbell of P.J. McIntrye’s for his welcoming pub and his intrepid truck.
We’re also grateful to Noreen Jordan and Allen Reiser, Julie Jordan and Jim Cummings, and Kathleen Jordan and Paul Machle for all their support—and Jim’s majestic wine cellar.
Thanks and love to Thomas Sullivan and Patricia Laughlin, and to Ed and Marg Sullivan, the best parents anyone could ask for.
Nora Jordan, who turns eighty-eight on the day this book is published, has always been the most excited about this project, a champion cheerleader. Thanks, Mom!
We dedicate this work to Kate Sullivan and Tom Sullivan, who make it all matter.
—Mary Jordan and Kevin Sullivan