It's been more than two years since I first met the Ulas family. Many things went through my mind when I saw them on that first visit and I had some intense feelings. First, I was afraid. I was afraid of offending them, or making them feel like they were 'different'. So I was very, very careful but spontaneous at the same time. In a very short time, I was at ease and felt very welcomed. My heart broke open and I felt a deep, deep sadness, followed by a very strong feeling that 'I have to do something'.

This family is fascinating to researchers because something like this has never been reported before... anything new is fascinating to researchers. However, I don’t think the Ulas family is especially fascinating because they walk on all fours and so they imply something evolutionary; researchers would have been even more fascinated by them if they were walking only on their hands (like in a handstand), which has no connection to evolution. Scientists and researchers just like things that have 'never-been-seen before', or 'never-been-found-before'.

There was some tension between the military and the film crew/research team when we first arrived, because the military wasn’t sure that we were doing a scientific documentary about this family and this disorder. They were afraid we were going to make a political and/or environmental piece about rural Turkey, and depict it badly.

I did develop a deep connection to the family, and that's hard to talk about. I guess it is more about me than the Ulas family and their condition... I feel the same kind of protectiveness and connectedness to all sentient beings on Earth, especially the 'unfortunate' ones. I believe altruism is, in fact, not one sided but reciprocal. We are all unfortunate in someway; if we have this life and this body, we have pain. The pain of the impermanence of existence is the same for all of us. No matter how rich, educated, famous, healthy, successful, good hearted, creative, beautiful, or smart we are today, sooner or later we are all going to get sick, old, and die. This is a huge burden on all of us and a burden we have in common with all living things. So we all need each other and would be happier if we knew how to be more connected.

The exposure that came from the Passionate Productions film has definitely been good. There has been no harm at all. The family became famous, which led other TV channels from around the globe to go there and help them out while interviewing them. They also learned how to benefit from the medical system the Turkish government provides for people with disabilities, which is a very good system. So when they need check ups and medication, et cetera, the father knows how to follow procedure and work the system. On a more human level, they used to be isolated, but now they have people who are interested in them, who care for them, who think about them, and remember them, and that always feels good to anybody!

*****
I have been back to visit the Ulas family since the film was made. They are better than before, as I mentioned, but they still need so much stuff. People who are interested in helping them can e-mail me at defnearuoba14@yahoo.com [1].

If you were interested in this story, you may also be interested in The Family That Walks On All Fours [2]