ROCHESTER, N.Y. — For the past few weeks, there have been more than 3 million Americans observing Ramadan. It's the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, often known for fasting from dawn until dusk, extra prayers, time with family and friends and charity. 

What You Need To Know

  • February 6 there was an earthquake along the Turkish-Syrian border that killed more than 50,000 people

  • Turkey is proclaimed an Islamic country

  • Thousands of Turkish people are celebrating Ramadan differently this year after losing their families

  • Ayse Maraslioglu's praying extra this Ramadan for her daughter and grandchildren's safe return to the United States after surviving the earthquake
  • If all goes as planned, Maraslioglu is expecting her family's return by the end of April

These are all tasks Ayse Maraslioglu has been doing more than any other typical month of Ramadan. She has been spending more time with family and friends at the Turkish Society of Rochester, appreciating all the donations sent to her home country, and she has been sending extra prayers to her surviving family in Turkey. 

"Between me and my husband, we’ve had over a hundred people, friends, family members have died, have passed away and it’s just sad, you know? There's no words to describe it,” Maraslioglu explained.

The morning of February 6, all she wanted to do was plan another trip to her home country to spend time with her family in Turkey because she knew something didn't feel right. Little did she know, hours later she'd get a call from her daughter with the news that an earthquake hit home. Her daughter's first thought was to call her mom before she found out the hard way.

"The first thing I’m thinking is, oh my god, my grandkids are dead,” Maraslioglu said.

She says her daughter and grandkids ran down 13 flights of stairs in their apartment building after the power had gone out, just to make it out alive. 

Maraslioglu says, based on videos of what's left of her hometown, that furniture would have fallen right on the bed her grandchildren were sleeping in if it weren't for them running out as quickly as they did. Many of her other family member's bodies were found days later in the rubble.

"It's heartbreaking," she said. "Most of my days are like I’m like sleeping, just laying down, moping. But after crying for two months, I’m like 'OK, I need to stop.'"

Now, she is redirecting her energy into Ramadan and knitting blankets during her fast for her grandchildren's return to the U.S. 

"During the month of Ramadan, we do extra prayers," Maraslioglu explained. "In the Islamic faith, as far as fasting is concerned, the reward of it, nobody knows. And it’s God, you know, whether it’s God or Allah, it’s all the same. We believe in one creator and he says it is known to us that he shall reward us when the time comes.” 

She says her reward is being back in communication with her daughter who sends her videos of the grandchildren every day to comfort her family in the United States. Maraslioglu is also thankful to be able to spend time with the loved ones she has left at the Turkish Society. 

"God has taught us he can take it away in a split second," she said.