Comment by Lisa on 15 Feb 2012 at 9:29 pm

Hi Karen,

I love your book. I applaud your recovery from such abuse. You (all of you) are an inspiration to all.

I grew up roughly in the same area as you (south side of Chicago area) roughly the same time you did.

Thank you for sharing your story.

Dear Lisa,

Thank you, for applauding my recovery! Please know that it took a team to help me survive. I’m grateful to have had the best care from my psychiatrist, my alters, and more recently an entire network of supportive friends. Growing up in the south side of Chicago had its ups and downs, but I was fortunate to have found some inspiration among chaos.

The neighborhood I lived in as a child was once beautiful and there were some kind people who prayed for me all the time. Sadly, back then no one knew what to do about what they saw, were afraid to make waves, and ignored obvious signs that I was in trouble. Life is different these days.  There’s much more awareness about abuse and most people are no longer afraid to speak up. I feel encouraged to know children are learning how to defend themselves by sharing and seeking help. It’s amazing the self-confidence gained when children are taught about abuse and know it is wrong. I didn’t have that advantage.

It’s not the neighborhood that makes bad things happen, it’s the few sick people who hurt children and are not caught that can ruin the reputation of an otherwise wonderful beautiful area to grow up.  My abusers should have been caught early on, instead they hid in plain sight without anyone paying attention to them. No one stepped up and helped the children they very well knew were being abused. That was sad.

Thank you for sharing!

Karen