Download or read book Beating the Odds From shocking childhood abuse to the embrace of a loving family one man s true story of courage and redemption written by Paul Connolly and published by Kings Road Publishing. This book was released on 2014-07-03 with total page 182 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'She'd done more to belittle, undermine and scar me, with her ten years of scorn and hatred, than Starling with his brutal physical batterings or any of the others with their attempts at forced sexual contact. But no-one gets jailed for what they say, even when it amounts to deliberate mental torture...'As Paul Connolly struggled to leave behind his painful, humiliating childhood in the notorious St Leonard's children's home, the ghosts of his past would not let go. The paedophiles and sadists had damaged so many kids. Some had died, from suicide or heroin. Others, like Paul, had emerged, battered and illiterate, to try to find a place in the world. When a fall from a roof shattered his boxing ambitions, he survived in a brutal underworld of routine violence, before eventually building a career as a celebrity fitness trainer, working with the stars of fashion and film.After Against All Odds became a surprise bestseller, everything changed for Paul. He found himself speaking at the House of Lords, appearing on TV and getting involved in projects with abused kids and illiterate adults. But a rare heart infection almost killed him, and the old demons still haunted him.Four years later, Paul has made a new world for himself, centred on his young family and a successful training business that mends broken bodies, builds confidence and changes lives for the better. His story is a remarkable tale of endurance and survival - vivid, disturbing, but ultimately uplifting, as the beaten child who was once told 'You're rubbish; you'll never be worth a thing' becomes a man with the heart to love, live and embrace the future.
Download or read book Against All Odds written by Paul Connolly and published by Kings Road Publishing. This book was released on 2010-03-01 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It had been years since I had seen any of the children with whom I had grown up. When I left the children's home, I promised myself that I would have nothing to do with them, I was sure that my only chance of living a good life would be to put the past behind me, even though that meant saying goodbye to some of the people I loved the most - as well as the ones I hated...it turned out that six of us had died, several by slow suicide in the form of heroin abuse, and at least two by faster means. When two police officers arrived out of the blue at Paul Connolly's door, he learned the shocking news that, out of the eight children with whom he shared a dormitory in care, only two were still alive. The revelation unearthed painful memories of a childhood that, until this point, Paul had tried desperately to put behind him. Abandoned at two weeks old, Paul came of age in the infamous St Leonards's Children's Home in East London. The children there were routinely abused, often over the course of many years. All were underfed and unloved and told that they would amount to nothing. Angry and frustrated, Paul channelled his rage into boxing - but when an accident shattered his ambition to turn professional, he found his true calling and became a successful trainer, even working as a consultant on the pilot of a top model's fitness video. Paul has finally found peace and fulfilment beyond anyhing he could have imagined all those years ago. He has found happiness with his wife and children and now helps to heal broken bodies, build confidence and transform lives - but he will never forget his past and the unnecessary victims of broken society...
Download or read book One Man s Courage written by Peter Zuidland and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the courageous and inspiring book written by a man who was abused as a child and tells of the shocking effect this had on his life. Physically and mentally his health declined as he tired to come to terms with what had happened to him. Peter became an alcoholic, self-harmed and attempted suicide before eventually reclaiming his life as a survivor rather than living as a victim. One Man's Courage has been written in two parts. One part discussing lessons Peter learned and advice for fellow victims of abuse and the other part tells his story. An important book for our times.
Download or read book Beating odds with love written by MR. SERIOUS JACKSON and published by eBookIt.com. This book was released on 2024-02-26 with total page 103 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Embark on a Heartrending Journey of Transformation and Triumph Imagine a life where every corner holds precarious challenges - a battleground not heralded by fanfare, but by the resilience of the human spirit. "Beating Odds with Love" is a raw, emotional odyssey that takes you through the tempestuous life of Sincere, a soul sculpted by adversity yet defined by an unyielding capacity for love and redemption. From the stark shadows of "The Battleground of Childhood", where innocence is pitted against relentless abuse, emerges a figure, a Princess of the Pitfalls, one that rebels against a father's overbearing shadow. Survival instincts sharpen on the treacherous streets, but at what price? Venture deeper, through betrayal-laden bonds of brotherhood, and witness the birth of an indomitable force - Sincere. Yet, it is in the shrouded softness of a hardened heart where the true journey begins. "The Heart Behind the Hardness" unveils a hidden vulnerability yearning for a catalyst, one found only in the transformative embrace of love. With each subsequent chapter, Sincere confronts the delicate interplay between strength and empathy, between guarding oneself and opening up to the healing power of affection. The tale crescendos through trials and tribulations, gripping you with the relentless pursuit of redemption. Step alongside Sincere on the beleaguered yet enlightening path to salvation in "The Road to Redemption". Bear witness to the awe-inspiring power of the human spirit to overcome, to find solace in serenity, and to don the impenetrable Armor of Affection. Within the volumes of Sincere's story, a legacy unfolds. It is not just a recount of hardships; it's a mosaic of lessons learned, a treasure trove of insights for any seeker of hope and any champion of love. This story isn't merely read; it's experienced. Let the indelible mark of "Beating Odds with Love" fortify your spirit, elevate your soul, and reignite your belief in the unassailable power of the heart.
Download or read book My Story written by David J. Pelzer and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 438 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Child Called 'It' is Dave Pelzer's story is of a child beaten and starved by his emotionally unstable, alcoholic mother: a mother who played tortuous, unpredictable games that left one of her three sons nearly dead. No longer considered a son, or a boy, but an 'it', Dave had to learn how to play these games in order to survive. His bed was an old army cot in the basement and when he was allowed food it was scraps from the dogs' bowl. Throughout, Dave kept alive the dream of finding a family who would love and care for him. This is an inspirational look at the horrors of child abuse and the steadfast determination of one child to survive despite the odds.The Lost Boy The harrowing but ultimately uplifting true story of Dave's journey through the foster-care system in search of a family who will love him.A Man Named Dave The gripping conclusion to this inspirational trilogy. With extraordinary generosity of spirit, Dave takes us on a journey into his past. At last he confronts his father and ultimately his mother. Finally, Dave finds the courage to break the chains of the past and learn to love, trust and live for the future.
Download or read book Raising Randy written by Randy J. Hartman and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2009-04 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Full of courage and strength, this remarkable memoir follows the life of Randy Hartman from his upbringing in an abusive, dysfunctional family to a successful military and mental health career. Born in the rural town of Guernsey, Wyoming, during the 1950s, Randy grew up with three brothers and a hardworking mother and father. He enjoyed running around the small community and getting into innocent trouble with his brothers and friends, but things were difficult at home. His mother died in 1961 and suddenly, Randy's abusive, alcoholic father was trying to raise the family with little success, moving the boys around constantly and consorting with different women. Once he was old enough, Randy escaped his miserable home life and joined the military, got married, and started a family. But numerous problems continued to plague him, including his own bout with alcoholism, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and infidelity. When he and his wife were divorced, Randy hit bottom. Yet he refused to give in to despair, and went on to overcome his addictions, eventually going to college and earning a master's degree and a PhD. A true story of anger, shame, happiness, and hope, Raising Randy delivers a compelling picture of one man's struggle to overcome the past and create a meaningful future.
Download or read book No Turning Back written by Bryan Anderson and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2011-11-01 with total page 173 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An exceptional memoir about one man's truly inspirational outlook on living, no matter the odds. Before you dig into this book, there are a few things I think you should know. First, I was a soldier, and I still talk like one-in other words, I swear. So, if bad words bother you, just squint and pretend you don't see them. I want you to know this book is not about the war in Iraq, and I'm not pushing a political agenda. Even though I'm going to tell you about the day I was wounded and what I went through during rehab, this book's not just some war memoir or a pity party. I just want to share some of my stories with you. This book is not about being wounded. It's not about struggling. This book is about living. It's about life. In this inspiring memoir, Bryan shares his infectious love for life that touches anyone who's faced hardship. No Turning Back is a testament to pure hard work, perseverance, and hope for a better life- no matter what shape it takes.
Download or read book Too Close to Me written by Dave Pelzer and published by Rosetta Books. This book was released on 2014-08-22 with total page 249 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The #1 New York Times–bestselling author and child abuse survivor reveals the challenges that he still faces as an adult, as a husband, and as a father. In the blockbuster autobiography A Child Called “It”, Dave Pelzer shared the story of his childhood—one of the most dramatic and extreme stories of child abuse ever prosecuted in the state of California. As a child, Pelzer was beaten, starved, and abused both emotionally and physically by his alcoholic and mentally unstable mother. As a man, Pelzer went on to have love, happiness, a fulfilling career, and a family of his own. To many, Pelzer seemed to have found his happy ending. But for a child abuse survivor, living a normal adult life carries challenges and complications above and beyond those faced by most people. This book, the fifth in Pelzer’s nonfiction series, provides an honest and courageous look at the difficulties inherent in marriage, parenthood, work, and life from the perspective of someone who survived horrific physical and emotional terrors as a child—and who seeks to meet the responsibilities and complications of adult life with love, strength, and an open heart.
Download or read book Ebony written by and published by . This book was released on 2000-11 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: EBONY is the flagship magazine of Johnson Publishing. Founded in 1945 by John H. Johnson, it still maintains the highest global circulation of any African American-focused magazine.
Download or read book A Man Named Dave written by Dave Pelzer and published by Wheeler Pub Incorporated. This book was released on 2001-03-01 with total page 500 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dave Pelzer's father never intervened as his mother abused him with shocking brutality. She told her son she could kill him any time she wanted to -- and nearly did. But even years after he was rescued, Dave felt rootless and awkward, an outcast haunted by memories of his years of abuse. Dave's dramatic reunion with his dying father and the shocking confrontation with his mother -- along with the discovery of her secret past -- led to his ultimate calling as a mentor to others struggling with personal hardships. Dave was finally able to break the chains of his past, learning to trust, to love, and to live.
Download or read book Too Tough to Cry written by Paul Powers and published by Harpercollins Pub Limited. This book was released on 1998 with total page 263 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: At the age of seven, Paul (then known as LaVern) Powers lost the two most important things in his life: his mother and his puppy. What he didn't realize was that he had also lost something just as precious and irretrievable -- his childhood. Beaten by his father for crying over the death of his mother. LaVern vowed he would never cry again. For the next 13 years, despite an abusive and poverty-stricken family life which culminated in his murdering a woman for $500, the young man kept his promise, suppressing the fierce pain that welled from within. Too Tough to Cry is the remarkable story of how this bitter adolescent, a murderer and a petty thief, became Paul Powers, a successful children's evangelist, loving father and husband of Margaret Fishback Powers, creator of the famous Footprints poem and author of several bestselling Footprints books. This is a deeply transforming book the account of a man who, in an epiphany, discovered Jesus and a new way of living. Paul Powers tells his story with candor and courage, from his pain-filled childhood to his teenage years spent in reform schools and bars, to his difficult search for a true calling, finally encountering love, forgiveness and fulfillment in an innovative children's ministry and an understanding and supportive wife and family. A story that will deeply touch anyone who reads it, Too Tough to Cry is another powerful chapter in the Footprints story -- a phenomenon that continues to bring joy, hope and inspiration to people all over the globe.
Download or read book I Love Jesus But I Want to Die written by Sarah J. Robinson and published by WaterBrook. This book was released on 2021-05-11 with total page 257 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A compassionate, shame-free guide for your darkest days “A one-of-a-kind book . . . to read for yourself or give to a struggling friend or loved one without the fear that depression and suicidal thoughts will be minimized, medicalized or over-spiritualized.”—Kay Warren, cofounder of Saddleback Church What happens when loving Jesus doesn’t cure you of depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts? You might be crushed by shame over your mental illness, only to be told by well-meaning Christians to “choose joy” and “pray more.” So you beg God to take away the pain, but nothing eases the ache inside. As darkness lingers and color drains from your world, you’re left wondering if God has abandoned you. You just want a way out. But there’s hope. In I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die, Sarah J. Robinson offers a healthy, practical, and shame-free guide for Christians struggling with mental illness. With unflinching honesty, Sarah shares her story of battling depression and fighting to stay alive despite toxic theology that made her afraid to seek help outside the church. Pairing her own story with scriptural insights, mental health research, and simple practices, Sarah helps you reconnect with the God who is present in our deepest anguish and discover that you are worth everything it takes to get better. Beautifully written and full of hard-won wisdom, I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die offers a path toward a rich, hope-filled life in Christ, even when healing doesn’t look like what you expect.
Download or read book Wayne written by Wayne Theodore and published by . This book was released on 2003 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is a story that sends the reader careening through episodes of childhood abuse, teenage drug addiction, and as an adult the compulsion to repeat the sins of his father.
Download or read book Through the Darkness written by Eva Smith and published by . This book was released on 2008-12 with total page 108 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Long Road Here is a true story. Child abuse is rampant throughout the world. Every day unfortunate children die from being abused in the home. Their story goes untold. For those that survive and progress to adulthood, the mental and emotional keloid scars remain deeply ingrained throughout their lives and seldom do they share their experiences. This story tells a million stories. It will rip at your heart, and yet, the determination of this young girl makes you cheer her on. And in so doing, you cheer on each and every child victimized by abuse, hoping they too have the stamina and determination to survive and thus triumph over this heartless enemy, child abuse!
Download or read book Not Normal written by Paul Connolly and published by Independently Published. This book was released on 2018-05-20 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The latest book from bestselling author Paul Connolly. An uncensored account of his extraordinary true life story and his lifelong struggle to overcome an abusive childhood and build a 'normal' life for himself and his family. Put out with the rubbish at 2 weeks old and into the care of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Paul Connolly was sent to the notorious St Leonard's home in Essex, where he heard that he was 'Not Normal' almost daily amongst years of mental, physical and sexual abuse. Childhood friendships made and lost. Total Neglect. Starvation. Sending an illiterate, very angry young man out into the world.After years of extreme violence in London during the 1980's and 90's mixing with gangsters and a dark underworld, Paul confronted memories and demons from his past in the most shocking ways - eventually discovering that six from eight of the childhood friends he grew up with in St Leonard's were no longer alive. Great friends and a loving heart transformed Paul's world and Paul has gone on to help thousands of people as a specialist conditioning coach, sports injury expert, celebrity personal trainer, presenter and best selling author. He works with various charities and is a core participant in the historical child abuse enquiry providing a voice for many of those no longer able to speak up. Above all else, Paul is now most proud of being a loving father to his two sons.Life has been anything but normal and the demons will never go away, but Paul has learned to smile at them as many of the people that predicted the worst for him are now where they told this vulnerable little boy he would end up.This is Paul Connolly's story and it is Not Normal
Download or read book From Under the Table written by Paul M. Hanssen and published by . This book was released on 2015-08-14 with total page 188 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sometimes a story comes along that is so powerful, so gripping, that it's hard to believe the story is actually true. This is just such a story. This book will take you on a journey of discovery. Some parts of that journey will disturb you, even anger you at times, but through some of the most horrific trials and tribulations imaginable victory will emerge. This amazing book deals with the most brutal forms of child abuse, both mental and physical. It is the story of a young boy's horror as he struggled to survive among adults who, in their unique way, were monsters. After you read this moving story of one man's struggle to deal with a childhood full of repressed memories and distorted recollections, you just may discover that God's love truly is the binding that holds the pages of life together.
Download or read book A Child Called It written by Dave Pelzer and published by . This book was released on 2015-06-12 with total page 195 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: David Pelzer, victim of one of the worst child abuse cases in the history of California, tells the story of how he survived his mother's brutality and triumphed over his past.