Three Sisters: A Quest for Mending

By Beth Lane

Three Sisters: A Quest for Mending presents the real life story of a family, their journey through abuse, and how the experience can be transformed to living a successful life. The author through her dramatic story describes the tragedies experienced by the parents, the loss of their son that they cannot save and the abuse the parents mete out to their three daughters. As the story develops, the reader can see the different options the sisters choose to cope with the abuse. The book ends with steps and resources for the reader to utilize in surviving, moving to a safe place and mending.
The need for such a book is apparent. Children are suffering from a hidden epidemic of neglect and child abuse. There is a report of child abuse every ten seconds. Four children die each day due to abuse. What is interesting is Health and Human Services acknowledges that they really do not know the actual number of children who die due to abuse. If they have not been reported, then those children are missed in the total number. Over 3 million reports of child abuse are made each year. U.S. Justice National Crime Survey reports there is an average of 237,868 victims (age 12 or older) of rape and sexual assault each year.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 10, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503572850

Beth Lane

Beth Lane held a thirty year career as an experienced healthcare professional with a focus on helping impoverished families that were uninsured or underinsured. Today, she is focused on helping children, who have experienced emotional trauma, rise out of their situation through books and therapeutic toys designed to help aid the child in healing. In addition, she is a professional presenter receiving invitations to speak at nursing and social service conferences and hospitals to share her expertise in holistic health, self-care, and keeping children safe.

Book preview

Copyright © 2015 by Beth Lane.

Library of Congress Control Number:      2015908314

ISBN:        Hardcover           978-1-5035-7286-7

                  Softcover             978-1-5035-7287-4

                  eBook                  978-1-5035-7285-0

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 07/10/2015

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CONTENTS

Dedication

Introduction

Foreword

Martin (Shorty)

Mary

Buzzie

Ellie

Liz

Beth-That’s Me

Steps And Resources For Surviving And Mending

Afterword

Endorsements

DEDICATION

I was getting my hair washed by a young man at our local beauty salon. We were talking about a high profile child abduction case in which the young girl victim was also sexually abused. As our discussion was winding down, he commented, I hope they don’t forget about us. I realized that he was talking about boys who have been sexually abused. He was talking about himself.

It got me thinking about writing a book for teenagers and adults that would include tips for how to move from victim to survivor and finally to emotional and spiritual wholeness. Thus, Three Sisters: A Quest For Mending, became a reality.

That young man who washed my hair, along with many family and friends, has encouraged and supported me in this endeavor. I want to thank my husband for his constant belief in me; and my neighbors and friends, Cora, Stephanie, Mary and Alison, for reading and re-reading the umpteenth revisions; Mary Lieberman for editing; my writing group for listening to me read excerpts and providing me support and feedback; and Gordon for his review and suggestions. I am so very grateful for each and everyone’s support.

Seventy-five percent (75%) of children who are sexually abused are younger than the age of four. At least 50% of the people who are incarcerated were abused as children. If we all work together to lend a helping hand to a child, perhaps we can turn the tide against this epidemic. I dedicate this book to every child and adult who has experienced abuse and is surviving or has survived in the hope that it will help each of you in the struggle to become whole.

Beth

April 30, 2015

INTRODUCTION

This is a true story. The names of the people and where they lived have been changed to protect their privacy. In some instances, I have put direct quotes around statements that I did not hear firsthand or cannot confirm. Nevertheless, this story is accurate in every substantial way.

My purpose is to encourage victims of abuse of any age to reach out and ask for help. Real healing begins at the moment of acknowledgement, even if the abuse was long ago.

Often abuse is generational unless there is intervention. Many books have been written about the abuse the individual suffers. Many best sellers are about the most horrific cases. Abuse crosses all classes of people, races and ethnicities, the literate and the uneducated. As I read some of the best sellers, I started thinking, I wasn’t abused that much. Maybe I…. I had to tell myself, STOP! NO abuse is acceptable!!

Often times text books are written about the family dynamics from an emotional or family development perspective. I wanted this story to be written from a human perspective. It is important to me for each person’s story to be told.

As you read the story of each family member consider the opportunities for help that are available, that are a phone call away. I truly want each individual who has been in harm’s way or is presently being abused to reach out for help, to heal and to become all they are meant to be.

In chapter three, notice how the dynamics around Buzzie’s illness impacted each of the family members.

In chapter 4, Ellie is the renegade. As you read, see where she could have asked someone trustworthy for help. Could she have planned better so that when she left, she never had to come back? Perhaps, but what is important is asking and receiving help.

In chapter 5, Liz finds an alternate way to escape. What were her signs of hopelessness? Can you see them? What else was possible?

Chapter 6 introduces Beth, the quiet one. What kept her going? As you read, see if you can find the actions she took to survive, to escape and to mend.

As you read, can you see where each sister had opportunities to ask someone trustworthy for help? What else was possible for each of the individuals in their life story? What kept them going?

Chapter 7, Steps and Resources For Surviving and Mending is a summary of the actions that may help you in your journey of mending. They are the end product of everything Beth learned in her struggle to be safe, loved and mend. A brief list of national and state resources that are available is also included. It was important to me to include hotline numbers for the runaway, like my sister; the hotline for children of the night, and others, so that anyone reading this can be able to make that phone call for help.

Writing this