A stranger gave girls fleeing civil war an unforgettable gift decades ago. Now they’ve reunited

In 1999, an 11-year-old Ayda Zugay and her sister were on a plane to the U.S. by themselves, fleeing civil war in Yugoslavia. A stranger seated next to them gave them $100, which had an unforgettable impact on their lives. Decades later, they reunited. Steve Hartman shares more in “On the Road.”

The author of 5 books, 3 of which are New York Times bestsellers. I’ve been published in more than 100 newspapers and magazines and am a frequent commentator on NPR.