Letter from 9/11 Flight Attendant Reaches Her Son 24 Years Later

Shainman delivered the letter to him on a Tuesday. The request for Castrillo to read it aloud transformed a simple exchange into a moment of profound connection between a son and the mother he lost far too soon.

A Teacher’s Promise Kept Across Four Moves and 24 Years

The letter had originally been sent to Castrillo’s kindergarten teacher, Thurman. She explained that she kept it with her across years and schools — four moves in total — never letting go of the keepsake. When the opportunity finally arose, she shared it with Shainman, who arranged for her and Castrillo to reconnect on a Zoom call.

“As a mom, I know you need to see those words from your mom,” Thurman told him. “She was a wonderful woman, and you were a wonderful student.”

On the call, Thurman even surprised Castrillo with a class photo, rekindling memories of his earliest school days. Overwhelmed, he expressed his gratitude, “Thank you so much for both the roles you guys played in getting me this note. You guys did great.”