Testimonial from Annie B.

As a sexual abuse survivor I have spent 30 years suffering and 10 years recovering from that suffering. Having been wounded at a very early age, my memories for years lay deep in my psyche without my awareness. As a result I endured decades of undiagnosed PTSD as well as a half lived life in which I could not get anywhere I wanted to go. I was in daily pain as a result of the abuse and my fear of allowing my memories to surface and to feel my way into healing was immense. I didn’t think I could live through it. I was blessed with an angel for a therapist who helped me countless times to continue a journey I wanted to cut short. I was later blessed with a group of survivors who shared their stories and their pain openly, honestly and courageously allowing me to see that I had indeed made progress on this incredibly slow journey of healing from sexual abuse.

For all of this I am a changed person. Wounded still, yes but utterly changed. Suffering no more as I now continually allow what comes up, to come and go. My heart has opened in a way I could never have imagined it ever would again. I began with a hardened heart and now have grown and am continuously learning the limitlessness of compassion and love for myself, others and their paths. When I began this journey, it was all about sexual abuse. It consumed me. While this path still includes sexual abuse it has widened and deepened and has become just one human’s journey with many other gifts, heart breaks and surprises.

Being a part of this foundation and a voice for others who have yet to cross over to the other side is one of those gifts and surprises. Someone held out hope for me until I was able to hold hope for myself. Holding and offering hope to those who have little or none is the spirit that this foundation was created on. I believe in healing with others. I believe in the power of the human spirit, particularly many human spirits gathered together for a holy purpose such as the purpose of this foundation: To offer hope, healing and change to a survivor who can find in him or herself even the smallest desire for it.