A Charlotte holocaust survivor got an unexpected opportunity from a teenager who was inspired by her life story.
We sat down with Frieda Roos-Van Hessen, a hundred-year-old woman that is now sharing her experiences with the world.
Roos-Van Hessen remembers hiding from the Nazis, constantly running off and being a fugitive in her own country.
“I escaped eight times, been persecuted and locked in a room for two and a half hours,” she said.
Gittleman asked if he could write a book about her and she agreed. That’s how their friendship kicked off. But he wasn’t prepared for the emotional journey as he penned every painful detail she shared with him.
The book is titled “From Singer to Survivor.” Roos-Van Hessen studied opera and acting before her life drastically changed.
The holocaust survivor says escaping was the easy part. Continuosly starting over wasn’t. Last time she saw her parents, they were being taken to a concentration camp and she never saw them again.
Roos-Van Hessen believes her life story will inspire others same way it has changed Gittleman’s life.
She can’t thank him enough for befriending her, for frequent visits and his willingness to listen and appreciate history.
For more information on the book, visit the website www.abookbyme.com.
Story courtesy of Fox46 Charlotte
www.fox46charlotte.com