Lost & Found

I am a woman on a mission; a serial survivor. I am also a wife, a mother, a grandmother and a working professional. What defines me is my belief that I matter. A serial survivor endures multiple abuse scenarios. I carry my scars with pride. Because I know, first hand, that self-esteem is a survivor's best defense, I am taking real steps to invite change. I have survived emotional, mental and physical abuse, abandonment, bullying, learning disabilities, life-threatening allergies, domestic violence, rape, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress, depression, multiple heart attacks, cancer, addiction and uncontrollable rage. The courts granted me full custody of my children when their father pled guilty to multiple counts of child abuse. I take medication to control Provoked Post-Traumatic Epilepsy, whose daily Grand Mal episodes were triggered by the blunt force head traumas I sustained in the beatings inflicted by my first husband when I was in my early twenties. My vision is a network of leaders. My mission is to draw a line in the sand that says NO to a climate of indifference. My plan is to encourage, enable and inspire an army of supporters to take up the cause and help create a positive force for change. My goal is to serve as a guide for anyone ready to live a better life. "Lost & Found" is my memoir. It is a wake-up call to those who may be - or may know someone - experiencing abuse. It is my foundation; the proof that I have stood where others are standing; that I have paid my dues. I wrote Lost & Found to establish my place among those who have seen the worst that can happen and have made the choice to own their lives, move forward and embrace change. Each chapter talks about real people and real experiences. Though I fought as hard as I could, as time went by, my power to choose and my freedom to be were slowly taken away from me. Because things that are broken don't mend by themselves, my situation kept on getting worse. How I survived is a mystery to my doctors. How I kept my sanity is a mystery to me. What I hope you take away from this book is that we all deserve a better life. If someone is trying to steal your joy and happiness, get help. You deserve it.