http://www.iwillnotbebroken.org/connect/stories.aspx Together, we are not alone. Together, we can be more. Together, we survive and thrive. http://www.iwillnotbebroken.org/images/cover_book_shadow.gif http://www.iwillnotbebroken.org/connect/stories.aspx 138 192 en-us Dear Jerry, Mine is not a story of devastation, but one of surviving a lifetime of challenges which have eaten away at the fabric of who I am. As a very brief background; I grew up as the daughter of a kind and gentle army officer (who was often absent) and a bitter and angry mother, so I often felt unloved and unwanted. At 16 I was date-raped, and married the man because I felt it was the honorable thing to do. After being beaten for 3 years, I escaped with my two children and started a new life. I put myself through school, and things were improving, when I got a call at work one day saying that I had just lost everything in a fire at my apartment building. My life has been full of exhausting challenges and exhilarating opportunities. I will be 60 this year, and I have always considered myself an optimist, a survivor, and a thriver. But this past year, something in me changed. I found myself exhausted by the seemingly endless barrage of betrayal, loss, and pain, and I have felt unable to continue. I knew that I had a choice of life or death, and began to consciously choose death as a welcome relief to the endless challenges that seemed to come my way. I felt alone. I withdrew from family, friends, and my community. I felt like my life was grinding to a halt. Just in the short time that I have purchased and read your book, I have realized that I am not alone, and that there are probably many other people out there who are feeling the same way I have been - beaten by life itself. The book has been a real blessing, and already, I can feel myself shifting back from victim to thriver. Now that I have a clear awareness of the difference, I will be on guard to protect my life from the victim mentality. It's time to get back to work - being of service to others and making a difference in our world, in whatever way I can. I have already begun to reconnect with family and friends, and I am feeling better already. Thank you, so much, for writing this book. It will serve as a beacon of light for those of us who, somehow, have forgotten our way. ]]> Vicki Opfer, Arvada, CO Sat, 16 Aug 2008 08:38:44 GMT I listened to Jerry White on Good Morning America today and heard his story and 5 steps. It sounded as if it was me in 1973. I lost my arm in an industrial accident at work. I was 23, a new Mom with a 4 year old and a new baby. As I layed in the hospital for 45 days while having nine corrective surgeries, I realized I could give up or get up. I chose to get up and get well. I faced the facts and chose life! After a year I searched for a support group to no avail. So, I started a group. It grew from 4 to 40 in a year. I was on the move meeting folks much worse off than me. A few that had lost two legs, and a very young girl that lost both arms in a jeep accident. I healed and continued the group for 5 years. It was giving back that helped me heal. I returned to work and began a new career in Prosthetics. Today 35+ years later I am retired and again a volunteer. Thanks Jerry. ]]> Barbara L, California Thu, 07 Aug 2008 09:37:22 GMT My current Survivor Story is terminating a 14 year relationship with a person who was and still is a Gambler and suffering from Bipolar Disorder. I was the Victim and Enabler and in control of my own destiny. But with the help of our Lord I was set free. It is still hard at times because I still want to fix things. But the only thing that I can do is attepmt to recover emotionally and financially as well as learn to take care of and love myself, before I can learn to love anyone else. Also, hopefully I have learned from these terrible lessons in order to build character and healthy life skills for the right person who is out there waiting to be loved. ]]> Elk Whiatle, Wasihngton, DC Sat, 28 Jun 2008 07:18:06 GMT I was born in Cuba, as was my entire extended family. They're all still there - I'm the only member of my family who made it to the United States. When I was very young, my father fashioned an old car into a floating raft that held 20 of us. We were all desperate for a better life. Halfway to the United States, the raft capsized. I remember hanging on to whatever family member was nearest. Eventually, the United States Coast Guard came out and rescued us. My older sister and I were allowed to stay the United States, sponsored by distant relatives that lived in Miami. That's where I am today - very much a part of the Cuban expat community - very much connected to my heritage - and very thankful to be here. ]]> Alejandro Arnez, Miami, FL Tue, 06 May 2008 16:09:50 GMT I was in a combine accident while farming cotten 5 years ago. In an instant my life was changed. Because I was severely disabled my farm was forclosed on. Today I'm living in Baton Rouge trying to piece my life back together and keep my family fed. I'm enrolled at the community college and feel hopeful about my future. ]]> Dan Ellis, Shreveport, LA Tue, 06 May 2008 15:51:25 GMT I lived in New Orleans for 8 years before Katrina. The first question everyone always asks is whether my stuff was ruined. I was able to get much of it back a few months later, but if it had been destroyed there is very little i would miss now compared to how much I miss my friends. I had an amazing group of very close, very smart, fun people in my life with hearts of gold. I have lost touch with many of them since then. Luckily I have connected with many amazing new people, but its never quite the same. Not to mention the incredible setting that New Orleans is - I've traveled a lot, but I've never found another place that feels like New Orleans. I miss it. You can always replace your stuff, but don't take your home and the people in your life for granted. ]]> Libby Miner, USA Mon, 05 May 2008 13:03:21 GMT My parents brought us over to the United States when I was only 3 years old - I don't remember much at all about life in Korea. That was 20 years ago ... my parents have worked hard at building a business here - and my brother and I have both always known that we've had to succeed - to make our parents hardships worth it. Today, I'm a college grad, and I make enough money to bring some home to parents each month - it's the least I can do to make their sacrifices mean something. ]]> Esther Park, Queens, NY Sat, 03 May 2008 16:38:46 GMT I was born with a partially unformed lower leg on the left side - the doctors immediately amputated the stub at birth. I got my first prosthetic leg before my first birthday, but by the time I was in elementary school I was able to ride and bike and run as fast as any of the other kids. I've outgrown a lot of legs in my lifetime - my mother's saved them all as a testament to my desire to walk. ]]> Matt Anderson, Buffalo, NY Sat, 03 May 2008 16:12:18 GMT My older brother died when I was 13 - he was 17, and had been fighting leukemia. I just remember how sad the entire family was. My father didn't go to work for a while, my mother couldn't get out of bed ... I did a lot of growing up very quickly. ]]> Kareem Najah, Chicago, IL Sat, 03 May 2008 15:58:15 GMT My parents divorced at a young age - it was a bitter, painful divorce, full of "he said" and "she said." I was sent to go live with my grandparents in the suburbs of Paris while they were hashing out the details of the separation, and ending up living there until I left for University when I was 18. I don't know my parents very well at all - but I'm luck y to have my GRandmere and Grandpere. ]]> Ted Rosenberg, Paris, France Sat, 03 May 2008 15:13:37 GMT I was biking to work in New York one afternoon and I thought that I could fit between a parked car and a double parked truck. As I was riding through the truck started to move and pull closer to the curb, and I fell over with my foot stuck in my toe clip, and I almost got run over by the truck. It was a really close call - my heart was pounding and my hands were shaking. ]]> Alison Shapiro, NEW YORK, NY Sat, 03 May 2008 14:24:30 GMT