Who is Kathy Zeitoun from Zeitoun and what is their importance?

Kathy Zeitoun was the single mother of a two-year-old son when she met Abdulrahman Zeitoun. She had just gone through a difficult divorce and had only recently converted to Islam. She had been raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in a church-going Christian family. She began to become disillusioned in her Christian church when the pastor repeatedly scolded the congregation for not donating enough money. Her friend, Yuko was married to a Muslim man and converted to the religion before their marriage. When the pastor caught wind of Kathy's interest in Islam, he called her before the congregation and humiliated her for studying such an evil religion. That was it for Kathy. She learned more about Islam from Yuko and soon converted.

When she first met Zeitoun, it was not love at first sight like it was for him. But after knowing Zeitoun for several years, she began to appreciate him and realize he offered her everything she had ever wanted in a man. The two were married and over the years, added three daughters to their family. Kathy played an important role in the family business, fielding requests from customers, scheduling her husband's paint crews, managing their property and their business books.

Kathy's motherly instincts told her to take her kids out of New Orleans when Katrina was heading directly at the city. Zeitoun refused to go with her. He would stay and watch over their property. Kathy and her kids stayed with friends and family the month following Katrina. When days went by without hearing from Zeitoun, she feared the worse. When she learned that he had been falsely imprisoned, she did everything she could do to free him. Finally, they were reunited and their relationship had not only survived the ordeal, it had strengthened it.

Kathy suffered from post-traumatic syndrome as a result of the stressful time during Zeitoun's dilemma. She has learned to cope with the condition but it has never completely gone away.