My wife and I had always dreamed of having a daughter - a little, blonde-haired girl with a voice like a bell.  And that is exactly the girl we got.  This happy event happened in Potsdam, in the German Democratic Republic, while we were serving there in the military.

‘Anyuta’ differed from children her age, quite literally from her first years of life.  She was extremely curious and interested in everything: why did the sun shine, why did rain fall, where was it that snow would not melt in the summer – we were always having to answer thousands of “whys”.  And not only us: she would quickly befriend everyone, child or adult, whom she wanted to meet and in order to learn more about everything.  Since childhood her tiny heart was open to all.  Because her mama was a professional musician, music was always heard in our home, and this served Anyuta well in music school.  She graduated from there with honors.  She also attended art school, and graduated with honors from there as well.

Anyuta never had problems relating to other people, despite the fact that during our long service in the military we were always on the move, traveling from city to city and from republic to republic.  She spent her summers with her grandparents on either side, alternating between the Ulyanovsk district village of Nikolayevka, and the city of Tolgyatti.  Not only they loved her, but everyone who knew her did as well, for she was a bright ray of sunshine no matter where she appeared.

Anyuta began reading at four years of age.  In kindergarten, Anyuta’s teacher would sit her down with the other children and have her read fairy tales to them.  She read quickly, intelligibly, and with great expressiveness.  But oh, how she loved to participate in school plays!  She was a born leader.  She never hurt her classmates’ feelings and was never full of pride or boastful.  She was tactful, but performed the roles assigned by her teachers with talent.  She memorized texts and poems, sang songs, danced, and helped the other children who were having difficulties.  And she was always full of joy.  A happy face and shining eyes – this was our daughter.

In 11th grade, Anyuta moved to the city of Chita with us.  She found her classes easy, and she was interested in school, receiving almost all ‘5s’ (A’s).  The rare ‘4’ (B) that she received caused her to worry: not out of vanity, but because of her sense of responsibility and high standards for herself.  She had absolutely no idle time, and she tried to manage to do everything: playing with her brother, reading, doing homework, watching the latest shows, talking with friends, and helping her mother around the house.  She actively participated in after school activities, yet did very well in her studies.  She was loved not just by her friends, but by her teachers as well.

Here are excerpts from the school report on Anna Oftayeva, while an 11th grade student in Chita city middle school #12:  “…In her studies she has shown brilliant abilities in all subjects, taking first place in the city Russian language Olympiad.  ‘Anya’ possesses exceptional literacy.  In history class her answers are exceptional in their mature reasoning and with skillful orientation to the political life of the nation.  In the medically oriented classes she has received in-depth knowledge of chemistry and biology.  The instructors at the Chita state medical academy selected Anya as one of their most capable students.  At the city and district Olympiads in chemistry and biology Anyuta took first place more than once.  Sympathetic, kind, and with a huge sense of responsibility, she is a great authority not only among her classmates, but also in the entire school.  She is a born leader.  Decency and providing assistance to others are rare qualities in our day, and not intrinsic to many.  Anya possesses these.”

Anyuta finished school with a medal.

Since childhood our little girl had but one dream – to become a doctor.  To our great sorrow, it was never meant to be.  Throughout her short life she pursued this goal.  She studiously prepared for the I.M. Sechenov medical academy, and our family was overjoyed when she was accepted.  Anyuta, however, was simply relieved.  She made many friends among the other medical students, and many new impressions.  Joy and happiness seemed to join our family forever.

Among all her enthusiasms and passions, Anyuta’s studies were number one.  She joined the science student clubs to gain supplemental knowledge, and read much of the special technical literature.  At the same time, however, Anyuta was awfully frightened of exams.  To her it always seemed as if she had not completely learned everything, or that she did not know the given subject well enough.  The night before an examination she would worry terribly.  But after taking the test, it was with such joy in her voice that she declared: “I got a ‘5’!”  We never had any doubt, but all the same we were just as happy as our daughter.  And surprisingly, on the very same day that Anyuta had taken a test, she would begin preparing for the next.  In her fourth year of the academy she began to work at ‘Nord-Ost’.

There is no greater sorrow in life than burying one’s children.  Our home has forever become empty.  We have no right to stop living, but the bright light of our life is gone.  Pain does not leave us, not even for a minute.  In our thoughts we constantly talk with our daughter, and we feel her nearby.  Yes, it is so: Anyuta is still with us; we love one another other so very much.  Only we cannot embrace her, for she is very far from us…

What we lost, heaven found.  For us it is very painful, and lonely…

Written by her parents.