Foreword
This memoir is an account of my personal experiences and my own perspective on life with my mom over
several years.
The events of this book take place during what ended up being my parents’ greatest trial.
Included is an account of these events, my thoughts as I experienced them, and the loss of the rose-tinted
glasses through which I viewed my relationship with my parents.
This memoir began as a chronicle of my mom’s battle with mental health.
I wanted to ensure I documented as much as possible, in the hope that one day I could ask them both to read
it—to let them see things from my point of view.
When I began writing, I had no concept of whether this would be a story of triumph or tragedy.
I will spare you some suspense on this point: this story is undoubtedly a tragedy.
From this tragedy, I wish to do something positive.
If I can give my mom’s battle new meaning—if I can reach or help just one person on this earth who may be
dealing with something similar—then sharing this story will have meant something.
If you, or anyone you know, are battling any kind of mental illness, perhaps this story can help you better
understand the depths to which it can drag a person.
Within five years, my mom all but disappeared, leaving behind an empty shell of the woman I knew and
loved.
In this way, I have been mourning her loss for years.