by Nora Mason (Author)
Wanda (Anna) Kowalczyk was an unstoppable woman, with a resilient spirit and a zest for life. Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, in 1920, Anna's idyllic early childhood was shaken by a traumatic injury that left her physically disabled. Unwilling to have their daughter to be less than whole, Anna participated in everything, but mostly music. She was a brilliant pianist, had a beautiful voice, and carried her love of performance her whole life.
A devoted, but reluctant, mother, Anna saw her daughter, Nora, through attempted escape from Ukraine in World war II, to internment in a German forced labor camp, to immigration to America. Through turmoil, death, divorce, and joy, Anna's and Nora's bond stayed unbroken.
Against All Odds: Anna's life is an inspiring story of two women who defied impossible circumstances to create a life and a bond.