Story posted Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Recovering Willson Thankful For Support
Off The Record by TODD WESSELL | It's been 12 days since the airplane carrying Des Plainesite James Douglass Willson touched down on an O'Hare Airport runway bringing him into the arms of freedom and his family.
Two days earlier, his 13 months of confinement within the rat-infested walls of a Moroccan prison had officially ended. The king of Morocco having heard the cries and demands of James' wife and daughter, Jean and Marilyn, granted him a royal pardon. As his journey home to Des Plaines from Morocco was ending on Friday, June 19, another journey---the journey toward full recovery---was just beginning.
Willson last year was sentenced to a total of eight years in a Moroccan prison for illegal entry into the country and drug trafficking. The Willsons claim that James was a victim of trumped up charges and a terrible Moroccan legal system in denying that he had any involvement in drug trafficking. His entry into Morocco was a mistake when the small airplane he was a passenger in had to make an emergency landing due to mechanical failure.
While it seemed that any hope for his release was remote at best, Jean and Marilyn never gave up pleading for their husband and father's release to anyone who would listen. Finally, the king of Morocco ordered Mr. Willson's release after hearing abut his plight from the Moroccan ambassador to the U.S---a man Jean and Marilyn visited several weeks ago in his Washington, D.C. office.
Last Sunday, the Willsons, after visiting with Fr. Gene Dyer at St. Mary Church, attended the 10:45 a.m. service at Bridge Community Church (formerly named Des Plaines Bible Church), to give thanks to those who supported him with letters and words of encouragement during the dark hours of his forced stay. That, he said, was one of the key reasons he was able to keep going.
"He got up and thanked the people from the church who wrote letters to him while he was in prison," said Jean. "Everyone was congratulating him on his return. He looked good."
Since his return to Des Plaines, Jean said her husband is discovering a new world of technology and gadgets. When he left there was no such thing as Twitter. "Now he's discovered it," Jean explained.
"He's resting at home now. He wants to read and he's relaxing. He wants to do things and build up the muscles in his legs and thighs. He made it around the block the other night. He's not the type of person who wants to sit, but I don't want him to exert himself. He's eating well. That's a good sign."
Jean said there are no plans now to do any traveling even if it's a short distance from home. His priority is to get better and make visits to the doctor.
"It's a day by day thing," Jean said. "He's happy to have a bed, to eat on a regular basis and to stay warm when he gets cold." She said he also has to regain his psychological strength.
"I can't express the thanks and happiness to everybody," added Jean. And, she added, "Marilyn and I both agreed to change the ring tones on our cell phones. Now every time our phones ring it won't remind us of a call coming in from Morocco."
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