Beyond Survival: Reclaiming Self

By Cathy Brochu

Beyond Survival: Reclaiming Self, the third and final segment of the trilogy series exemplifies the true meaning of individuals and community working together. You will experience through another’s eyes the pain and healing power in the form of imagery, poetry, short stories, and lyrics, all of which can be instrumental in the healing journey of incest and sexual assault.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 24, 2007
• ISBN: 9781462811823

Cathy Brochu

Cathy’s unparalleled and insightful outlook on life is an inspiration. Hers is a testimony of strength, endurance, perseverance and faith. Cathy has worked in the field of Child Welfare for more than thirty years. She has worked directly with victims, perpetrators and families. She has heard the endless stories and cries for help from young, old, male and female. Above all, Cathy has evolved. Moving from victim to survivor to activist, Cathy appreciates each and every day. There isn’t a day that passes that she doesn’t realize that she could have been a statistic rather than a person. In this regard, she celebrates beating the odds and is actively making a difference in the lives of others.

Book preview

Copyright © 2007 by Cathy Brochu.

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.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

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42969

Contents

Acknowledgments

From The Readers

Author’s Notes

1   Survivor to Activist

2   Mike

3   Sharon

4   Chris

5   Susie

6   Michael

7   Christina

8   Cathy

9   Larry

10   Anonymous Survivor, age 16

11   Regretful Mother

12   Clara

13   Kathleen

14   Crystal

15   Brenda

16   Mary

17   Dyana

18   Angel

19   Jackie

20   Scott

21   Kim

22   Kimberly

23   Crystal

24   Evelyn

25   Elaine

26   Elisa

Suggested Readings

Resources

Keynotes

About The Author

Dedication

This book is dedicated to victims, survivors, allies and to all persons who for whatever reason were not able to use their voice before passing on.

This book is also dedicated to those individuals and agencies within this community and beyond who have steadfastly supported my endeavor to educate and empower individuals and community. Together, we have collectively and successfully collaborated in making a difference in the lives of children, individuals, families and community. Thank you!

Acknowledgments

Yes, the third and final segment of the trilogy series is complete. I wish to pay tribute to those who made this book possible.

My applause and sincere appreciation goes to each and every person who contributed to this book, your powerful words, your images, your strength and courage. You are my heroes. Thank you.

To my dear friend Larry Looney, I thank you for your unwavering support and friendship. Your music has on many occasions soothed my soul and brought to me comfort and reassurance. You are such a wonderful gift to the universe.

To Dyana Smolen for your support, your collaboration, your friendship and the time and energy spent on editing the manuscript. Thank you.

Credit goes to the Syracuse Post-Standard and photographer David Lassman for the Author Photo.

And lastly, I would like to acknowledge God, Goddess and Mother Earth from whom my wisdom, strength, endurance, perseverance, love and faith are drawn.

From The Readers

"Beyond Survival the last of Cathy Brochu’s trilogy about struggle and rebirth, shows us that, for Ms. Brochu, life is about more than surviving. For her, it is about growing to become an advocate and activist for those suffering in a nightmarish world that society chooses to deny. This compilation of stories, poems and narratives-some in illustration rather than words-gives a voice to many who have endured violence and degradation by the very people who should have protected and loved them.

Encouraging patients to tell their stories is an important tool in medical diagnosis and an important therapeutic tool in healing wounds of the psyche. Listening, truly listening to the storyteller is a skill that develops in the best health professionals. The author gives us the opportunity to hear something very profound about how people can heal. But, if we listen carefully, through these writings, we might learn to recognize those in need of advocacy and begin to break this societal cycle of distress.

I feel that Ms. Brochu’s trilogy Lost Innocence, New Beginnings and now Beyond Survival, should be required reading for health care professionals. We cannot really begin to help until we are able to hear the voices of those struggling to break free. The author, once again, has made an important contribution by letting these stories speak for themselves. We just need to listen!"

Wendy S. A. Edwards, MD

Chief, Section of Palliative Medicine Department of Medicine and

Faculty John Conley Department of Ethics

St. Vincent’s Hospital Manhattan

Like Homer’s ill-fated . . . Sisyphus, the author of Lost Innocence and New Beginnings mastered her fate by embracing it with courage and lucidity. Now in Beyond Survival," the final offering in her life-affirming trilogy, the author provides other victims laboring in the underworld of sexual experience an opportunity to give voice to their mastery of fate and fury in poems, stories and other public expressions of private pain and healing. Superbly conceived and executed, ‘Beyond Survival: Reclaiming Self’ is a rich, rewarding read for anyone attuned critically to the irrepressible drama of human triumph over excruciating intrapsychic experience."

Carl P. Ellerman, Ph. D.

Psychotherapist

Syracuse, New York

"The combined voices of countless survivors of childhood abuse join together to offer hope and healing in Beyond Survival: Reclaiming Self. Through prose, poems, and drawings, the reader is provided with abundant examples of survival and recovery from childhood trauma. By sharing their experiences, the contributors grant the reader a look inside their anguish, but more importantly, into their recovery and victory over childhood abuse. Beyond Survival offers hope to those recovering from childhood abuse, affirming that they are not alone, and triumph over trauma is possible."

Jennifer Cornish Genovese, ACSW, LCSW

Psychotherapist specializing in the treatment of traumatized children

Syracuse, New York

Cathy Brochu is my friend and heroine. Cathy was the first victim of childhood sexual abuse that I had ever met locally who spoke out about her abuse to enlighten others to the magnitude of this problem. She was not viewed by many people at that time as heroic. In fact, many people asked why she did not keep the secret. After all, she doesn’t look like or act like a victim. ‘Keep quiet they would say and no one will know your shame.’ Those were tough times for my friend, but she persevered and continued to be a voice for the victims of this terrible crime. Through her efforts, more and more people who were also abused have been able to say, ‘I was the victim and the fault and shame for this crime is not mine, but with the abuser.’

Ron Hawkins

Retired Deputy Sheriff

Syracuse, New York

"Cathy Brochu’s book, Beyond Survival: Reclaiming Self, the third in a trilogy, gives voice to many adults who have survived sexual assault and incest. The book offers a unique opportunity for the reader to examine the artistry displayed in poems, stories, photos and lyrics of survivors’ works. This candid documentation of the healing journey one takes from ‘victim’ to ‘survivor’ and eventually to ‘advocate for social change’ inspires and encourages each of us to join collectively in doing our part to end violence. Cathy’s work exemplifies the power of hope, compassion and wisdom in her role as a champion for the cessation of abuse."

Kathleen K. Flannery, LMSW

Former Executive Director

Rape Crisis Center

Syracuse, New York

"Victims of sexual violence feel alone and isolated. ‘No one understands what I am going through’ is something I constantly hear from victims. Victims need empathy and support from allies and advocates. A critical part of the healing process, however, is the ability of victims to connect with other survivors of sexual violence, men and women who truly know what it is like to experience such a terrible act. With the sensitive nature, stigma and complexity of issues surrounding sexual assault, it is often difficult for victims to find other survivors, which is so important to the individual’s recovery.

Beyond Survival by Cathy Brochu brings the experiences of survivors of incest and sexual assault together for the entire community. In her book, victims can learn about a similar pain and experiences of other victims and realize that they are not alone. Victims will also learn of the indomitable spirit of survivors and see the hope that exists, which is so important in the healing process.

I hope that not only survivors, but also allies will use this resource and experience the poems, photos, lyrics and stories