Interpreter, family land in SWFL, narrowly escape Taliban

A man from Afghanistan, who risked his life for a Cape Coral veteran, has landed here in Southwest Florida. That interpreter arrived at RSW on Wednesday morning.

The odds of escaping Afghanistan seemed slim, but they were able to. It was an emotional reunion for this family.

The Afghan man we call “Frank,” his wife, and his five kids were thankful for so much on this day before Thanksgiving, including their health, happiness, and escaping Afghanistan alive.

On the same day that an explosion killed 13 American soldiers and 60 Afghans, this family was at the airport in Kabul.

Frank recounts how the Taliban is allowed to do anything. “You go to the same location in there is a bunch of Taliban shooting everywhere randomly. They can just grab you and beat you in any way and shoot you, you know?” he said.

So he’s thankful to be on American soil. “So, I consider myself so lucky. So fortune to make it and to be able to come to USA,” Frank said. He considers it “some kind of miracle.”

Frank’s daughter, Aisha, went from being forced to marry into the Taliban to being able to pursue her dream of becoming a heart surgeon.

And, Frank’s sons: Shahabudin, Hatim, Omer, and Sheer, have already been so much. The Taliban beat Sheer, who is only 9-years-old, at the airport in Kabul.

Sheer says it was a painful experience, but when asked if he was happy to be in the U.S., he said “yes.”

Now, this family is safe. Thanks to Cape Coral veteran, Aaron Forum whose tireless efforts saved their lives. His ongoing work is something the family is extremely thankful for ahead of this first Thanksgiving in America.

“So, I am thankful and grateful for my knees, my friends, and also for the people.. for the people of the United States of America, to allow us in. To come here to America and to make America our second home,” said Frank.

Fro now, Frank and his family are in extended-stay hotels. When asked what they hoped would be included in their first Thanksgiving spread, one of Frank’s sons said “pizza.”