In a personal testimony shared with Alex Jørgensen, Ryan remembers Fadel Ali Shokor as the brother she and her sisters never had.
SOUTH LEBANON — “We never had a brother.”
That was one of the first things Ryan Dorrah shared when speaking about Fadel Ali Shokor, the young man she and her sisters came to see not as a friend, but as the older brother they never had.
For years, Fadel became a constant presence in their lives. He was the person they turned to in moments of joy and hardship alike—the one who encouraged them, reassured them, and celebrated every achievement as if it were his own.
Ryan’s tribute is not built around a single memory. Instead, it is a collection of lessons she says Fadel left behind.
She remembers how he always reminded them to turn to God whenever life became difficult, repeating the words, “God is with you, my love.” She recalls how he was the first to believe in them, the first to celebrate their successes, and the first to offer encouragement whenever they doubted themselves.
She remembers a man who understood people without judging them, who knew how to lift heavy hearts with a smile, and who never needed grand gestures to make those around him feel loved.
For Ryan and her sisters, Fadel filled a place that had always been empty.
“He became our big brother,” she said.
Throughout her tribute, one phrase appears again and again: “You taught us…”
You taught us faith.
You taught us confidence.
You taught us kindness.
You taught us how to laugh through difficult days.
Each lesson builds toward the final words of her tribute—words that transform gratitude into grief.
“But you forgot to teach us how to live with this loss.”
On 1 June 2026, Fadel was killed by Israel in Lebanon, the homeland where he was born and raised.
For Ryan, however, death did not erase what he left behind.
His greatest legacy was never found in possessions or achievements, but in the values he planted in the lives of those who loved him. Every lesson he shared, every word of encouragement, and every act of kindness continues to live on through the people whose lives he changed.
To the world, he was Fadel.
To Ryan and her sisters, he will always be the brother they found.
Reporting note: This story is based on a personal interview with Ryan Dorrah, who shared her tribute and confirmed Fadel Ali Shokor’s identity and the details reported here.