After a long period of hesitation and the persuasion of my wife and children, I finally began to write my memoirs. I felt my turbulent life experiences, hardships, and great struggles could be helpful for my children, my friends, my nation, and all future generations. Writing my memoir has a very challenging task since English is not my first language. Moreover, my truthful, straightforward, and candid character will disclose many unresolved conflicts and pain. Therefore, I expect to create new adversaries for me. For me, the tenacity of truth supplants all of the potential animosity I may encounter. I began writing my memoir chronologically long before my birth. I started with the Armenian Genocide of 100 years ago, giving rise to my grandfather's murder by Turks and Kurds. My journey started from my birthplace, Badelbu, a traditional village in northwestern Iran, Urmia, and has ended in the autumn of my life in northern California. For these memoirs, I sincerely appreciate the efforts and input of Mrs. Arsho Melikian, a schoolteacher in Los Angeles; Dr. Minas Kojoyan, the former editor of "Nor Or Weekly; and Mr. Harut Sassounian, a renowned syndicate columnist and publisher of The California Courier. They all helped bring my work to completion. It is hard to find words to express my gratitude to my children, Dr. Masis and Armen, for their sacrifice of time and their incessant contribution to this book. Finally, I am indebted to my wife, Anahit, who supported me unconditionally during the completion of this challenging task.
About the Author: Ishkhan Babajanian, M.D. was born in Badelbu, one of the villages of Urmia, located in northwestern Iran and bordering Turkey. Along with his family, he struggled as a Christian minority child and confronted discrimination and injustice. In 1943, at 9.5 years old, he moved to Abadan, a progressive, southern city of Iran. Abadan was then known as Iran's cultural, educational and athletic center. He started his schooling with delay and completed high school in 1956. He excelled in his studies as well as in sports. In 1958, he entered the University of Tabriz Medical School and received his medical degree in 1965. He then worked at the Shahinshah Organization's Farah Pahlavi Hospital in Ramsar, Iran. In 1969, Dr. Babajanian repatriated to Soviet Armenia. He worked at the Yerevan Republican General Hospital as an Internist/Endocrinologist. In 1975, he immigrated to the United States. Due to cultural and language barriers, Dr. Babajanian struggled both to make a basic living and to receive his US medical Licensure. After his pediatric residency in the US, Dr. Babajanian worked in various US Governmental facilities, including the US Coast Guard Academy. After retirement, Dr. Babajanian joined the Armenian Volunteer Corps in 2006 and worked in Nagarno-Karabagh (Artsakh) at the Stepanakert Children's Hospital. Dr. Babajanian has been recognized with "Outstanding Physician Awards" in different countries. Dr. Babajanian is fluent in Armenian, Persian, English, and speaks Azeri-Turkish and Assyrian. He lives in Northern California with his wife, Anahit, of 45 years. His older son, Masis, is a proficient cardiologist and his younger son, Armen, received his Master's in Political Science and now is the Executive Director for Big Brothers Big Sisters in Poland. Dr. Babajanian spends his time with two wonderful grandchildren, who are 3.5 and 2 years old.