In the heart of a small Wisconsin town, beneath the surface of a seemingly ordinary childhood, lay secrets that would shape a lifetime. Growing up as the youngest of four in a fractured family, the author endured the silent weight of child sexual abuse—a trauma that spiraled into addiction and rehab at just seventeen. Sober for over four decades, this raw and unflinching memoir delves into the journey through darkness, from the struggles of a career as a firefighter/paramedic to the brink of death during an ice diving training accident that left the author unconscious beneath the ice.
That harrowing near-drowning became the turning point, leading to a diagnosis of PTSD and the start of a courageous path to healing. This gripping narrative not only recounts a life shaped by profound challenges but also shares the transformative tools and practices that helped confront and heal traumas long buried beneath the surface. A story of resilience, hope, and redemption, this memoir is a testament to the power of facing the past to reclaim the future.
