Respect: sister of Fajah speaks for the first time after family drama

It was a horror scenario that affected everyone to the core. Shanti, the sister of Fajah Lourens who lost her son in one fell swoop. A small baby thrown out of a window in an Amsterdam neighborhood. Her ex jumps after him. It has been over a year now.

Last night, Shanti appeared for the first time on RTL Late Night to talk about the shocking event. If you haven't seen it yet: you can find it here. I listened with my mouth agape. Despite all the misery, this woman has flipped a switch and found the strength to move on. Of course, that has to happen eventually, but just try to do that. Anger is still there, and so Shanti wrote about it in the book ‘Elfin’, the name of her deceased son. “He won't get me down, that was exactly what he wanted. I will continue and make something of it now for Elfin, my mother-in-law Maria, and myself.”

To the burning question of Humberto, how on earth do you deal with such intense grief, she has the following to say: “I chose to literally grab myself in the morning when I started to cry. ’It’s okay, cry,‘ I would say to myself. By embracing the pain, I could also feel love again. This way, I also saw beautiful things and felt joy and connection with the dear people around me.’ I can only say: Shanti, respect for wanting to share your story with the world in this way. I don't know if I could have done it. And I am curious about that book.