Comment by Lorraine on 18 Aug 2009 at 10:29 am

Dear Karen,

God, oh God, thank you God for you and Dr. Baer!  I am a christian who received your book nearly a year ago and refused to read it because I believed anything that listed anything about God and the devil, cults and abuse from christian men was something unfathomable.  I believed your story shouldnt have been written. I even cursed Dr. Baer for writing it. Well, fate takes a horrible turn for me and I am now on dyalisis three times a week. Last week I had nothing to read and thought I grabbed another book off my shelf. Instead I grab Switching Time. I felt ill and disappointed that I picked up the wrong book. I thought what will I do for three hours now. Well another lady having dyalisis saw the book and said that it was the most amazing book she read. So I gave your story a chance finally.

Why I write you is to apologize. I’m sorry to have thought badly of you and Dr. Baer. I’m sorry I thought your story shouldnt be written. I’m sorry it took me nearly a year to read it. I’msorry I didn’t appreciate my friend’s gift of this book. Friend, Please accept my apology.

Well, I loved the book! I actually felt your pain along the way and your pain distracted me from my stupid own medical problems. I was so engrossed in your book my three hours flew by and I stayed to finish a chapter before going home and finishing the book in one day. I wanted more and found your blog. Yeah!

God bless you Karen. God bless Dr. Baer to. I will definitely be sharing about your story from now on.

Lorraine, the pessimist

Dear Lorraine,

There’s no need for an apology!  I’m glad that you have written me to share your impression of Switching Time.  I understand you having pessimistic thoughts when you received my story as a gift. There are readers who’ve shared the same. That’s very important for me to know.  It really helps me understand the first thoughts of some of those who’ve felt the same as you.  It’s hard to understand or accept a story like mine, filled with horrific abuse and sadness, unless you read it.

Whenever I share my story with friends, family, or acquaintances, I ask them to finish reading, no matter what, because if they don’t, they will not be able to understand the true miracle of how I survived.

I was very fortunate to land in the hands of a caring psychiatrist, Dr. Baer.  I believe that in itself was not a coincidence, but fate.  I believe Dr. Baer was God sent, and multiplicity, a God sent coping mechanism.  I believe there is a reason for everything and that my story was meant to be shared.  It’s my hope to bring awareness tof what can happen to children who have been abused, and to share what signs to watch for.

I’m sorry that your medical problems cause you to need dialysis, but you are alive and able to receive the help you need to continue on.  In one way, therapy is like that, a chance to live life to the fullest despite the inconvenience of having to overcome an illness.  I hope the many hours per week in dialysis may be well spent by you and be a chance to heal.

Please stay healthy. I wish you all my best in your recovery.  Thank you for your blessings. God Bless you!

Karen