Imagine looking into a mirror and seeing a stranger staring back, a map of scars and reconstruction where your face used to be.

In the final chapter of this Citizen Tales series, we explore the grueling, often silent battle of life after the "miracle." For Saeed, surviving the body bag was only the beginning. Now, he must face a world built for fingers he no longer has and a society that swings between smothering pity and cold rejection.

This episode follows Saeed's transformation from a "broken corpse" to a man of fierce independence. From a heartbreaking encounter with a younger brother who no longer recognizes him to a six hour battle with a single sunflower seed, Saeed’s story redefines what it means to win.

Listen to the conclusion of Saeed’s journey to see how a former "casualty of war" ended up taking on the government in one of Iran's biggest maritime mysteries, the Sanchi oil tanker.

This final chapter contains detailed accounts of medical trauma, surgical complications, and the psychological impact of severe injury. These stories are shared for their historical and educational value, and to honor the reality of Saeed’s recovery. I do not promote, support, or glorify any acts of violence or harm. I tell these stories to understand the human condition, not to endorse the darker parts of it. Listener discretion is advised.

Imagine being pronounced dead on a battlefield, only to wake up three days later in a sun-drenched truck filled with corpses. This is the continuation of Saeed’s journey.

In this episode of Citizen Tales, we follow Saeed into the "Suicide Ditch" of the Majnoon Islands, where a single narrow road becomes the stage for a desperate mission. After a catastrophic explosion, Saeed’s war shifts from the front lines to the sterile, indifferent corridors of a medical system that has already written him off.

We witness the fury of a family refusing to say goodbye, from a brother’s slap that shook the Iranian Parliament to a father’s life or death ultimatum delivered on a fourth floor balcony. This is a story of welded arteries, isolation rooms sealed with duct tape, and the quiet, heartbreaking moment when a soldier is forced to face his new reality. This is Part Two of a three-part series on the human condition in the face of war.

Listen to Part 2 to see how a "broken corpse" fought his way back to the living. Subscribe for Part 3: A Second Shot at Life.

This episode contains real-life accounts of war, violence and trauma. These stories are shared for their historical and educational value, and to honor the experiences of the victims. I do not promote, support, or glorify any acts of violence, conflict, or harm. I tell these stories to understand the human condition, not to endorse the darker parts of it. Listener discretion is advised.

Imagine being 14 and having the lives of an entire division in your hands. This is the story of Saeed.

In this episode of Citizen Tales, we get to know Saeed, a man whose life began in a wicker basket in the freezing mountains of Iran and led him to the front lines of one of the 20th century’s most brutal conflicts. Born seven months premature, Saeed’s survival was his first miracle. We follow his journey from a rebellious schoolboy playing with human bones in an ancient cemetery to a master carpet weaver, and finally, to a 14-year-old volunteer in a demolition unit. This is Part One of a three-part series on the human condition in the face of war.

Listen to Part 1 to see how he became a commando. Subscribe for Part 2: Waking Up In A Body Bag.

This episode contains real-life accounts of war and violence. These stories are shared for their historical and educational value, and to honor the experiences of the victims. I do not promote, support, or glorify any acts of violence, conflict, or harm. I tell these stories to understand the human condition, not to endorse the darker parts of it. Listener discretion is advised.

Welcome to Citizen Tales, where I narrate the real extraordinary stories of real ordinary people. Check this episode to know what this podcast is about. Follow for the first episode, Saeed, the 13 year old soldier who came back from the dead, coming Tuesday, April 14, 2026.

Citizen Tales (Podcast) on all platforms.