Sara

/in /by

I just finished reading the book. It’s amazing.

I found it hard to read and at the same time hard to put down.

I cried. I reflected. I was inspired.

It was so thought-provoking, I thought about my own childhood, and where my resilience came from. I thought about the homeless people I see every day and now wonder what their childhood was like and how that shaped their brains and their lives. I thought about how brave you and your sisters were to have survived and thrived. I thought about how brave you all were to have written this. It couldn’t have been easy to relive the stories and to put yourselves out there for others to learn from and act on.

Sara Holtz
Author, Advice to My Younger Me: Career Lessons from 100 Successful Women

Judi

/in /by

I purchased your book this week.  I am halfway through it.  I am so moved by your story.  I can relate to sections of each sisters’ story and how each responded.  I want to say Thank You to each one of you.  I believe that when we are vulnerable enough to share our stories, others find the courage to face theirs.  Telling our stories takes the power out of the shame so many of us carry and allows us the power to own our story instead of allowing it to own us!  Thank you for being such champions.  I have much respect for each of you.  You are changing lives!  Big Hugs!

Judi Rodman, MS Ed, LPC
President and CEO
Sunflower House, Inc.

Audrey

/in /by

Kathleen,

I wanted to thank you and your sisters for your incredible presentation at the conference last week. You each shared so powerfully and I was honored to be in the space with you all. The way you outlined the presentation was so impactful and you did an amazing job highlighting the different ways that you each responded to the trauma you experienced. Hearing about Bill and about Boy the dog was absolutely moving. In the Office of Victim Services and our batterer intervention program, we talk a lot about “Enlightened Witnesses” – those people (or pets) that got us through the hardest of things, that saw us and loved us and who we could be our whole, imperfect selves with. You all spoke masterfully about enlightened witnesses. I’m so grateful you included that piece in your presentation.

I was also so so moved by the relationship between the three of you. It was such a gift to hold space with you as you spoke vulnerably, belly laughed and supported each other. You modeled resilience and provided such a hopeful space.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. It’s powerful and healing and I’m grateful. Please pass my thanks and gratitude on to your sisters, if you have the chance.

Take care, Kathleen!

Audrey Cress
Director of Victim Services|
Kansas Department of Corrections

Peggy

/in /by

Hi Kathleen,

I wanted to reach out after attending you and your sister’s workshop today at the Mental Health KC Conference. I want to express my sincerest gratitude to all of you.

Thank you . . .

  • for being vulnerable.
  • for being brave and sharing your story.
  • for your insights so that we can recognize and positively intervene with others in the same situation.
  • for openly sharing your perspectives so that we might have a better understanding of the journeys others have experienced.

It was impactful, and I feel the need to give all of you a huge virtual hug. You and your sisters are truly amazing!

Peggy Shear-Martin
Director of Health Integration Services
Johnson County Mental Health Center