From Trauma to Triumph and Finding My Voice

The final manuscript lay on my desk, a tangible culmination of years, of tears, of a journey that defied all odds. In both English and German, this book on narcissism was now ready to embark on its own journey, heading to publishers across Germany, America, and Canada. Its pages hold not just research and insight, but a profound, urgent message: love is the antidote to the hatred that so often consumes our world.

A particular image had etched itself onto my soul, becoming a guiding star: the face of a homeless boy in Damascus. This child's silent plea, his stark reality, infused the very core of my work, shaping its compassionate heart. And already, the message is resonating. A German test reader beautifully captured its essence, noting how the ending magnificently wove together every thread, leaving the reader with an undeniable sense that God is indeed a God of miracles, offering hope even when all seems lost.

But this book, this voice, this clarity, had not come easily. For years, the very act of reading and writing had been a source of profound fear, a painful echo of a childhood marred by abuse. The discouragement from a renowned author had once been the final straw, leading to a heartbreaking bonfire of my early writings, a symbolic extinguishing of a dream I believed was never meant to be.

Then, in 2001, a pivotal moment shifted the trajectory of my life. I gave my life to Christ, and a seed of hope, long dormant, began to stir. Ten years later, in 2011, the miraculous occurred. In an act I can only describe as divine intervention, God miraculously reconnected my brain, unlocking the ability to read and write properly. It was as if a veil had been lifted, a fog cleared, revealing a path I was always meant to walk.

This newfound freedom propelled me forward. I trained as a journalist, driven by a burning desire to share stories, to give voice to the voiceless. My first book, a deeply personal account of overcoming adoption trauma, was a testament to my healing and a beacon for others.

The journey has been long, I admit, marked by countless tears and relentless struggles. Indeed, this journey took a lifetime, from a dream I held as a six-year-old child until today, at sixty years old. I have shed countless tears to become what I always was from the beginning, from my mother's womb. It has its prize, and nothing has simply fallen into my lap. I had to do my homework with God. This is what I mean when I ask: are you willing to pay the price for the journey to become yourself? Yet, through it all, I clung fiercely to the belief that perseverance and unwavering faith in God's promises were the only way forward. Every painful experience, every obstacle overcome, has forged me into who I am today: a writer, a journalist, and, I believe, a prophet called to speak to the nations.

Now, with this new book ready to touch lives, the next chapter beckons. I'm off to Scotland for a 10-day retreat, ministering with Healing Rooms, before I return to the Middle East. I anticipate it with a quiet excitement, knowing that new adventures and perhaps even another book are waiting just beyond the horizon. My story is a living testament that from the deepest wounds, with faith as your guide, you can rise, find your voice, and illuminate the world.

Thank you, everyone, for your prayers during that wild journey!