An inside look at efforts to free an American detained in Syria is provided in a new book about high stakes diplomacy.

Sam Goodwin, a 30-year-old man, journeyed from Iraq to Syria five years ago in pursuit of a long-standing goal to visit every country on the planet.

Goodwin, a St. Louis native, planned to stay briefly in Qamishli, a city on the Turkey-Syria border, which he believed was under the control of the U.S.-backed Kurds during his visit to war-torn Syria, country 181 of 193.

He checked into the Asia Hotel, ate a meal, and then waited to meet a local fixer's friend who would guide him through northeastern Syria.

While strolling down the street to meet his guide at a nearby restaurant, Goodwin decided to call his mother, Ann, on FaceTime near a statue of former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad - the late father of Bashar al-Assad, the country’s current president - to show her some of the landscape.

Goodwin, who was wearing a military uniform, responded to a man in uniform by explaining that he wasn't taking pictures, but rather speaking with his mother.

Ann heard the last thing from her son before the phone disconnected, and it would be their last conversation until his release from Syria's prison system 62 days later.

Ahead of the release of his book, Goodwin shared his story with Planet Chronicle Digital about his son's disappearance in Syria and the family's efforts to bring him back.

The individual was held in solitary confinement for 27 days in Syria's Military Intelligence [Branch] number 215, a facility infamous for housing political prisoners. The only human interaction he had was for a few seconds in the morning and evening when the guards brought bread, boiled potatoes, and water.

Goodwin, a former Division I collegiate hockey player, revealed to Planet Chronicle Digital that he relied on his Catholic faith and world travels to cope with his imprisonment in Branch 215 and Adra Prison.

"In my darkest moment, I drew strength from gratitude and focused on the things I could control. I saw that this uncertain time was an opportunity for growth and learned to embrace it. Now, I share this lesson with others who may be facing similar challenges."

He stated that he lacks details regarding the reason for his detention and is still seeking clarification.

The Syrian Democratic Forces control Northeast Syria mostly, but there are still some Assad regime elements present, according to Andrew Tabler, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute.

"If you are an American citizen and get stopped at checkpoints in those areas, you could be detained for various reasons."

From Adra To Lebanon And Back Home

Goodwin was interrogated for hours by a man who spoke perfect English and threatened to hand him over to ISIS if he would not confess to being a spy.

After spending 27 days in solitary confinement, Goodwin was relocated to a different large prison before being transported to Adra, a prison located outside of Damascus, a few days after.

I formed close bonds with my fellow inmates at Adra. We shared meals and learned from each other. They taught me Arabic, and I taught them English. We played basketball together on a prison court, and I even smuggled a note out of the prison on their behalf. The note successfully navigated a game of geopolitical telephone and reached my father in the United States. These men risked their lives to help me, and their selflessness was truly inspiring.

"Through my travels, I have learned valuable lessons that have been reinforced by these men. For instance, it is important not to judge people based on the actions of their government. I have discovered that those who have the least often give the most. This principle holds true in every corner of the world."

Two weeks into the second month, an inmate approached me and I remarked, "Everyone here has been so kind to me." To which he replied, "Sam, in Syria, the good people are imprisoned while the bad ones are outside causing this." This comment was quite sobering to hear.

The FBI, CIA, State Department, special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, Vatican envoys, Middle East experts, and Goodwin's family collaborated to bring him home.

The family penned a missive to Pope Francis, requesting his aid in their efforts to obtain their son's liberation.

An old friend of Joseph Abbas, who is the uncle of Goodwin's sister's friend and former college roommate, contacted General Abbas Ibrahim, who was appointed as the head of Lebanon's General Security Directorate in 2011, for assistance with the case.

Ibrahim journeyed to Syria and conversed with Ali Mamlouk, a trusted security advisor and confidant to President Assad, to clarify that Goodwin was not a spy but a vacationer.

After months of prayers, meetings, and phone calls, Goodwin was finally released and driven to Lebanon, where he was reunited with his parents, who had arrived to meet him for the first time in two months.

"My family are the true heroes of this story. Their ability to connect with a head of state on the other side of the world in multiple ways is remarkable, and it's humbling. I'm still trying to understand my emotions about it," he said to Planet Chronicle Digital.

"While I believe the story is remarkable, featuring a global travel journey, diplomacy with heads of state, and celebrity encounters, what truly matters is the lesson we gain from this experience."