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A little girl, armed with dimples and a compassionate nature, silently maneuvered her way through the wicked shadows toward a beckoning light. She moved with her head bowed in fear, hands clasped in prayer above her head, begging God to make the pain stop, and with God's light shining down upon her, a unicorn shadow was cast on the plaster wall beyond her. Legend has it the unicorn bestowed miracles, magic, and wisdom. The unicorn, therefore, represents opening oneself to infinite possibilities.

Unicorn Shadows is the story of my journey through trauma. By age 22 I had survived an attempted drowning by an alcoholic parent; physical abuse at the hands of a parent; sexual molestations by various predators; date rape; gang attack; attempted rape by a police officer; bank robbery in which a gun was held to my head and my co-worker was stabbed 3 times with a hunting knife; and a second bank robbery in which my co-worker was shot and murdered and I found myself face-to-face with an armed gunman. Those are merely the highlights.

It is a story of faith, of finding peace amidst the chaos, of believing in the miracle of hope. The unicorn shadow represents the pain of the prayer while simultaneously portraying the hope of the miracle within.

Although I now find myself in a beautiful place of healing, living a vibrant life, able to fill others with happiness and hope, I still score a 10 out of 10 on the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) scale. The ACEs assessment was developed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Kaiser Permanente to assess the “risk of experiencing poor physical and mental health, and negative social consequences later in life.” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: CDC-Kaiser ACE Study).

According to the experts, I should have been doomed to a life of struggle. Yet, here I am . . . the happiest person I know. Yes, I have a history of severe panic attacks, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and a C-PTSD (complex post-traumatic stress disorder) diagnosis. However, I am at peace. Finally, I live a life of joy and tranquility, utilizing self-care strategies while successfully navigating my healing journey.

My mission is to help others do the same.