I just wanted to take a moment to share something close to my heart. Visiting someone in prison can have such a profound impact. It reminds us and the loved one inside that we are not forgotten, that we still have love and support beyond those walls. But the reality is that not everyone has the ability to visit. Whether it’s due to financial difficulties, distance, or emotional struggles, many families simply can’t manage it alone.
Financial struggles make everything even harder. Many families of prisoners lose their main source of income, and that burden is overwhelming. Every little bit of financial support makes a huge difference—whether it’s for travel costs to visit, basic necessities, or even just making sure their children don’t feel the absence in every aspect of life.
Ramadhan is especially tough. While most families gather for suhoor and iftar, for us, there’s an empty space at the table that can’t be filled. The atmosphere is different; the usual warmth feels incomplete. And then there’s Eid—the day meant for joy and celebration. But for us, it often comes with a deep sense of loss, a reminder of who is missing. While others spend the day with their loved ones, we spend it with a silent ache in our hearts.
Beyond the financial strain, the emotional and social impact can be just as difficult. The impact of feeling isolated, even ostracized by our communities, feels like we have committed a crime and are being punished. The judgment, the whispers—it all adds to the weight we already carry. That’s why emotional and social support is so important. A kind word, a visit, a simple reminder that we are not alone can mean the world.
And then there’s the struggle of parenting alone. Raising children is hard enough, but doing it without the support of a husband, who is usually the breadwinner of the family and especially in these circumstances, is incredibly challenging. Every decision, every responsibility, every moment of exhaustion falls on one person’s shoulders. It’s a constant battle between trying to be strong for the children while also carrying one’s own pain.
This is why support—whether emotional, financial, or simply being there—matters so much. It’s not just about helping the person in prison but about holding up the family left behind. Our struggle is real, and we shouldn’t have to face it alone.