I lost my dad and found me. Loss is hard. Multiple losses at a young age is even harder. Can you imagine holding a loved one in your arms as life leaves their body? Now, can you imagine taking on this life altering responsibility at the age of 12? Deborah was introduced to heartbreak at a very young age, and the thread continued throughout her early adulthood. 

In this episode we discuss the process of losing her father, and how that reshaped how she saw the world and herself in it. Deb's relationship with her father was somewhat complicated. As a Vietnam vet, he struggled with various vices due to PTSD. She vividly recalled a time when her father would lock himself in the closet with guns and struggles with alcohol. In addition to the loss of her younger sister (referenced above), her parents experienced the lost of Deb's older sister before Deb was born. I cannot imagine that level of pain as a father or a sibling. 

Deb's father was diagnosed with cancer and later passed away in 2016. She had 18 months with him from the time he was diagnosed and shares how their relationship transformed during that period. They connected on a deeper level and Deb found purpose in the process. There's so much more to the story, and this episode fills in the blanks. I am grateful for her transparency, honesty, and courage to reveal some of her past and present traumas, and her continued passion to help others heal.

#teenagemom #abuse #overcomer

Be sure to follow Deb via the social media platforms below:

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The Three Foundational Pillars of the DSP Community

1. Reveal trauma 

2. Heal from trauma

3. Help through telling stories of it all

“Better Man. Better Father.”