// HiGmet Zyma
Tirana, Albania…October 1943 – When the Nazis invaded the former Yugoslavia in 1943, Law Dzienciolski, a Jew who had already fled from Poland, escaped to Tirana, Albania, where he thought he might find refuge. He found temporary shelter with his relatives, Mikele and Vjera Kilic, who were living in Tirana. Soon the situation in Tirana worsened, and Mikele and Vjera Kilic decided to flee to the Albanian countryside to hide. Law who was sick and half-blind was unable to flee with his relatives.
Mikele Kilic asked his friend Dr. Bessim Zyma to hide Law. Dr. Zyma, who was the founder of Otolaryngology in Albania and had his own private medical clinic in Tirana, agreed to take care of Law. Dr. Zyma and his wife, Higmet, hid Law in the clinic, providing not only a place of refuge, but also the proper medical treatment. When Law needed to go outside or when patients came to the clinic, Dr. Zyma wrapped Law's face in bandages so no one would discover his identity. Law stayed in the clinic from October 1943 until April 1944.
When Law recovered his health, he left Tirana to join Mikele and Vjera who were hidden at the Monastery of Ardenica near Lushnje, Albania. In late 1944 Law escaped to Italy. Law Dzienciolski passed away in 1966.
Bessim Zyma passed away years ago. Higmet is in her 80s and continues to live in Tirana.
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Higmet Zyma
Higmet Zyma wearing the scarf she recently received through the JFR's charity knitting program
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