I have decided to share my story in the hope that it may touch or make a difference to just one other person, or give them the strength to get through another day.
I am nothing special, just an ordinary woman who has had a difficult life. If you are experiencing troubles right now, know that you can survive. All you have to do is believe you can.
I was born in rural North Yorkshire to parents who did not want me. I was given to my Nanna, who adored me. She taught me that if you believed in yourself and worked hard enough, you could be anything you wanted to be. Despite society saying that girls don’t do education, I wanted to be a barrister. Thanks to my Nanna, I could read and write before I even went to school.
At 5 years old, I was returned to my parents, and hell on earth began. Fear became my friend. I faced alcohol and mental health problems, domestic violence, and abuse. The blame was always on me; I was the problem. I made my first suicide attempt, and at 11, I was groomed by a pedophile. Seeking love and attention, I became a victim. I ran away from home and found myself homeless on the streets. I had to survive, feed myself, and unfortunately, I became a child prostitute.
At 17, I rescued myself. Several years later, I became a wife, but I was beaten and broken. Crawling on my knees, I made the choice to break this cycle. I attended university and, four years later, became a mental health nurse and counselor. I was nursing the very person I once was, paying it forward as I’ve always done.
My husband was taken away from me due to cancer; he was my everything. Broken again, I attempted suicide and nearly succeeded. I spent three months in a coma, but I’m still here. It was for a purpose, perhaps to share this with you.
So, if right now you’re being told you can’t do something, that you’re useless or worthless, stand tall. Take a walk down to the Yorkshire Bakery and Tearooms and look through the window.
Because if this little girl from North Yorkshire can do this, so can you.
