Comment by MJ on 11 Mar 2010 at 7:22 am

Hi Karen! So glad to have found you. Went to high school with you and you were one of the only nice people who didn’t treat me as a disabled person. You were my friend and respected me as if nothing was wrong with me. My being deaf never bothered you one bit. I knew you were being beaten, I saw your bruises freshman year, so sorry I wasn’t a better friend and did something. I teach the hearing impaired. I am proud of you for sharing your story. I know you help thousands of people every day. Once a kind heart, always a kind heart. May you be blessed forever more. Thank you for trusting me to read your story. It was powerful and truthful.

MJ

Dear MJ,

You were a great friend to me back in high school and I appreciate you never mentioning the bruises you saw. I always thought my bruises were hidden from view.  I dissociated all the abuse I suffered. If asked back then, I would not have been able to explain where my bruises came from.

When I make friends they are friends for life and the years that have separated us don’t mean anything. We will always be friends.

I am glad to hear you teach the hearing impaired. That’s the perfect job for the kind and patient woman you are. My best wishes for your continued success. And thank you for your honest feedback on my story. I’m glad I shared with you. I knew you would understand.

Karen