Friends,
Helen Naslund’s appeal of her draconian 18-year-sentence takes place Tuesday, June 22 at 10:30 am Edmonton time. If you would like to watch online, contact tasc@web.ca for details. In the meantime, Helen has written another letter to all of you have supported her through this nightmare. “You are the ones who are responsible for keeping my strength up in order to keep fighting to get through each day,” she writes in the letter (below)
June 19, 2021
Dear Supporters
Hello everyone, this is Helen Naslund again. I truly feel I need to once again send a very sincere message to all of those thousands of people that have supported myself and the continuation of your support as Matthew continues to advocate on my behalf. I do not have enough words to express my thanks and appreciation for all of your kind words and support in signing the petition for this appeal on my behalf.
A special thanks to Matthew for forwarding many, many of the comments that have been posted. Matthew also sent me a sample of several of your posted images and comments for the Mother’s Day campaign. It is so very special and considerate of you all to show your caring support like this.
I still am so incredibly overwhelmed by the stunning amount of positive support from the thousands of people across the world. I only know the names of a few of the thousands of people that have taken their time to express their caring support. My heart goes out to all of you even if I don’t know who you are.
I would just like for you all to know that each and every one of you out there that are giving support for this appeal, as well as all of your kind words and encouragement: you are the ones who are responsible for keeping my strength up in order to keep fighting to get through each day. Thank you all ever so much.
In case some of you are wondering what it is like for someone like myself to be incarcerated in a place like this – well, I’ll make a long story short. It feels like I’m in HELL with no way out! My circumstances seem to be unique to say the least. I do not fit in, nor do I feel like I belong here. And I am hating my life every day. A strange thought I keep having though is that “it could be worse.” I get this from my father: no matter how bad things may seem, it could always be worse or there is always someone less fortunate.
I’ll close with some good news and some news that makes me anxious. First off, my son Neil, who was also sentenced, got paroled last month and is back home with his wife and kids. I am so happy for him and hope he can get on with his healing and his life with his wonderful family. As for me, my appeal date has been announced for June 22. I don’t know what will happen, and it’s my first time in front of a court since I was sentenced last fall. But I have a great lawyer, and I sincerely hope that the judges will understand the complete picture that was missed the first time around.
So it’s fingers crossed until then, and until I get a new decision.
Thank you again for all of your support and strength, which keeps me going through all of this.
Take care and stay safe everyone.
Helen Naslund