in Costa Rica at Envision Music Festival, 2019.
(Edited December 12, 2023)
I feel blessed.
Yes, you did just read those words. And yes, I have a son who has been missing in Peru for 20 months. A son I love dearly and deeply, and I who I will search for until the day that I bring him home to me and to his sister.
But I still feel blessed, as the circumstances of Jesse’s disappearance have brought me so many angels. Some are people who were already in my life or Jesse’s life, some were acquaintances, and some were strangers. Some are CEOs, others are “regular people”. But each one has contributed something positive to my life.
I could write an entire book (maybe multiple volumes) about my angels. And I hope that one day I will. But for today, my second blog, I will select a handful, those who were instrumental in the first leg of my journey.
Anne Marie Boucher, a strong and independent woman, and the mother of one of Jesse’s best friends, Dylan Garber. Anne Marie flew with me to Peru 72 hours after I reported Jesse missing, funded my travel to Peru, Israel and so many other places in the world for over a year, flew my daughter to me when I couldn’t bear to return home without my son, and was always on the other end of my phone. Anne Marie and her husband Mitch Garber started the Jesse Galganov fund at the Missing Children’s network in Montreal with a lead donation of $100,000, a fund that raised over a million dollars towards the search for my son. They truly are angels who walk among us.
The Boyz. (And please forgive me if I don’t mention all of you) Jesse’s group of incredibly intelligent and passionate friends who loved (love?) Jesse so much that it hurts me to think about it. All of whom feel like “my other sons”. (Please forgive me if I forgot to mention you) Greg, Julien, Ben, Adam, Sean, Andrew, Dylan, and Finkel. Jonathan Garfinkle. Jonathan devoted almost an entire year of his life to the search. He ran the “war room” in Montreal, where he analyzed data we fought to obtain from Apple, all of the information gleaned from Facebook, from Instagram, from Google. He compiled a translation team of volunteers that worked on the documents I needed to provide to Peruvian authorities. And after he graduated from McGill University in 2018, he did an internship in Israel with Magnus, my elite Israeli search team, so that he could continue to monitor the search. Jonathan – I salute you. You are the embodiment of a dedicated friend.
Julien and Ben – we make up a unique triangle. The three of us have the very same tattoo that we wear proudly.
It is the word “ayeka” in Hebrew. A very spiritual and meaningful word, and something that will connect the three of us forever – even when we live in different countries
If you don’t recognize the word, as I was not familiar with it when Ben and Julien first brought in up to me in 2018, I would be happy to share the story, in another blog.
Jeff Stober, founder and CEO of the Drake in Toronto, Canada. Jeff and I had only met a few months prior, and were just starting to date when Jesse went missing. Jeff did not hesitate to call his Public Relations firm Navigator, and immediately connected me with Dierdre McMurdy. Dierdre and her associate, Ryan Guptill, provided media management and assistance to me at no cost for months. More importantly, Jeff Stober was at the other end of my phone 24 hours a day while I navigated my way through governments, corporations and the Peruvian quagmire of police and corruption. Jeff is one of the most spiritual people I have ever known, and I am grateful to be connected to him.
Emma Gilberg, Jesse’s girlfriend at the time of his disappearance, and her parents Rick Gilberg and Elisa Cohen. They opened their hearts and their homes to me, quite literally, in NYC and Martha’s Vineyard, and never hesitated to invite me to escape the reality of my uber-public existence as “the mother of the missing boy”. I spent many nights in their guest room feeling comforted and loved.
These are just a handful of the people who have graced my life. I did not ask any of them for help, yet they all offered it without hesitation, as have many many others. I have learned that we truly don’t know what generosity and kindness people are capable of – until the day that we need them. For me that day was October 14, 2017. I truly hope that none of you ever have to share that experience.
With love and gratitide,
Alisa, Jesse’s Mom
How beautifully your word were expressed and how thoughtful of you to think of this st such a hard time. I hope people will read this and gain some incite to your sadness and how you never forgot those who didn’t forget you and tour son.
Thank you so much.