Finding the Light: A Memoir

Elizabeth was shown off to the world as Ann's fortunate little adopted girl. But after Ann's second divorce it sends Elizabeth's life spiraling out of control into the depths of Ann's dysfunction. At home, her lonely, controlling mother made Elizabeth's life a nightmare of abuse. Building a wall around her heart to survive, Elizabeth struggles her whole life to learn how to trust anyone enough to pull down her wall. And just when she thinks she has finally found a safe space in her own home with a loving husband and child on the way, her husband confesses he is leaving her for his childhood sweetheart. On the brink of just giving up, Elizabeth struggles to survive.Year later, everyone sees her living a privileged, perfect life, but Elizabeth's reality was still a daily battle: clawing at the surface of sanity and the will to survive. Sometimes, just knowing someone else in the dark knows your pain is all it takes to survive as Elizabeth tries to find a way to be the voice of courage for others and bring the effects of child abuse and mental illness to light in this shocking narrative of triumph and resiliency.