Bajramovic is one of the survivors of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide, an atrocity during the Bosnian War in which thousands of Bosniak men and boys were killed by Bosnian Serb forces led by Ratko Mladić. His survival hinged on a series of calculated deceptions and moments of unexpected mercy amid the chaos.

At the time of the massacre, Bajramovic was 14 years old but told a Serb soldier he was 12, hoping to avoid being rounded up with older boys and men who faced almost certain execution. His smaller stature made this lie plausible. After fleeing their home village of Nova Kasaba, he and his mother found shelter with a Bosnian woman who, when confronted by a Serb soldier, claimed they were her relatives—a statement that likely saved their lives. The soldier, who was a former neighbor of the woman before the war, then personally escorted the group onto a convoy of dump trucks sent to evacuate Bosniak civilians from the UN compound in Srebrenica.

As the convoy moved through Serb-controlled areas, locals hurled objects at the vehicles, aware that the passengers were Muslims. During the journey, Bajramovic disguised himself further by wrapping a head covering around his head to appear female and remained silent when a Bearded Serb soldier inspected the occupants of the truck, falsely reporting that there were no men or boys aboard. Upon disembarking, they were instructed to march through a tunnel, where Bajramovic remained crouched to avoid detection. On the other side, his mother recognized individuals known to her—they were fellow Bosniaks, indicating they had reached safety.

Bajramovic’s early teenage years were marked by constant fear, deprivation, and exposure to violence, including the ever-present threat of sniper fire and shelling. After the genocide, he reunited with his father in England, where he lived for five years, grappling with depression and the lingering psychological scars of war. He later settled in Revere, Massachusetts, where he has lived for over two decades with his mother and family, now working as a model engineer for GE Aerospace. He earned a degree from UMass Amherst and has built a life far removed from the turmoil of his youth.

Despite physical distance and time, Bajramovic continues to contend with trauma, including recurring nightmares and sensitivities to loud noises that evoke memories of suffering. His visits back to Srebrenica have reinforced a somber resolve that the past cannot be changed. The enduring pain is further complicated by ongoing divisions in the Balkans; some Bosnian Serbs still view Mladić as a hero, a stance that Bajramovic says prolongs hate even 30 years after the genocide.

Nevertheless, he strives to focus on positive moments of resilience and unity. Earlier this year, he attended three World Cup matches played by Bosnia and Herzegovina, moved to tears by the collective joy of Bosnians in the diaspora singing together in Seattle. "You’re above ground," he reflected. "That’s a good day."