A Nickel In My Shoe: My story of abuse, survival, faith and forgiveness

I wonder…when this little newborn baby’s mother held her for the first time, and while gazing into her child’s eyes, did she say, Someday I’m going to beat you until you are black and blue, or did she say, I’m going to pour caustic liquid in your ear someday, so you’ll be deaf, or did she say… And when this baby’s father finally made it to the hospital from the bar room to see his new baby daughter. Did he pick her up and while looking into her innocent newborn eyes say, I’m not going to feed you, because I don’t care if you starve, or did he say, someday, when you need emergency medical treatment, I’m going to beat you for getting sick, throw you on the couch and leave you there alone for days- without food, water, or medicine, or did he say… Susan and her two sisters grew up in a time when racism was the norm, child abuse wasn’t recognized and poverty was a way of life. Throughout her life she was often beaten, forced to be a servant and was tossed away like garbage. Susan knew she wanted better out of life…an education, a chance to succeed, to have a mind of her own and most of all…to be free-free from abuse, neglect, prejudice and hatred. This is an inspiring story about a little girl’s struggle to overcome many obstacles- to understand why she was hurt, both physically and mentally, by the very people that were supposed to love, protect and nurture her. And through it all she never lost faith or hope that one day she would succeed, in every way-against all odds.