Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 843

Tonight's special guest is JoAnn Kerschner from Baltimore, Maryland, a child abuse survivor, RN, Nursing Director and Mental Health worker who's still in the early stages of her recovery. "My father died in 2011 from melanoma. I took care of him in his last few days of life (on home hospice) with the exception of his urinary catheter," JoAnn writes. "I could not look under the covers at the catheter; it brought back too many memories. I had little emotion and actually prolonged his life. You see, I am a Registered Nurse and have witnessed deaths of patients that I cared deeply for in my 30 year career. I never had a relationship with my mother, it was always distant, no bonding, no mother daughter moments, only continual narcissism, but yet somehow I found the strength to care for her for the next year. I hoped that I would always be chosen, good enough, but I never was." After her father's passing, JoAnn began her recovery in earnest, reporting she had a lifetime of memories. "I never forgot the details and I know my mother knew because I saw the sickness, the love of little girls and yes the picture of my mom wearing my pajamas, holding my stuffed animal, posing as a little girl for Daddy." JoAnn is grateful she has found a dedicated therapist (who still spends four hours a week with her), and the support of her husband and sons. "Is it over?" she muses. "No, it will never be over!" She says she's grateful to have the opportunity to share my story and join the NAASCA family. "I really need one! I am hopeful that some of your listeners will find strength in the fact that I am still in the beginning stages of my journey, I still go to counseling 4 hours a week, hold down a 60+hour/week job, and I am beginning to start my business HHOPE (Healing Hearts of People Everywhere) and make a difference."