About this item
Highlights
- Life interruptions come in many forms; illness, divorce, job loss, death.
- Author(s): Pattie Vargas
- 170 Pages
- Family + Relationships, Death, Grief, Bereavement
Description
About the Book
The loss of a marriage. The disruption of life plans. A family torn apart by the disease of addiction. The death of a son. Secrets, Scars and Heart Shaped Jars is the story of one woman's resilience in the face of heartbreak and hope.
Book Synopsis
Life interruptions come in many forms; illness, divorce, job loss, death. After the upheaval of an unexpected divorce in 1995 I thought, "well, thank goodness that's over." I can learn the lesson, collect the badge, dust myself off and move on. Surely the worst was behind me, with clear sailing and happiness ahead.
Little did I know, the worst was yet to come.
I was still to experience an unexpected job loss, multiple relocations, and an immersion into the world of addiction with encounters I had no way of preparing for. From arrests, overdoses, homelessness, and the death of my son, the fight against hopelessness was a daily battle. When my daughter spiraled out of control with her own substance use, it seemed all was lost.
Going to war against the disease that threatened to devour my family taught me the true meaning of resilience, unconditional love, and finding new meaning in the midst of devastating loss.
Review Quotes
Pattie Vargas has a message for every woman in America: never give up. Through unimaginable pain, Pattie has found a way out-and a path forward to help others. It's not just a journey in her shoes, but a roadmap to keep living. - Ryan Hampton, Addiction Recovery Advocate, Bestselling Author of American Fix & Unsettled
My friend Pattie Vargas has learned that victimhood is an inside job, and she shares her journey out of that prison. The things that happen to us don't have to be the final chapter unless we choose to let it be so. Her insights on maintaining an overcomer mindset are necessary to anyone seeking an empowered future. - Dr. Edith Eva Eger, Therapist, Speaker, Educator, Bestselling Author of The Choice: Embrace the Possible
Pattie is a voice for the voiceless and her voice has been instrumental in changing the conversation. When we change the conversation, we begin to change hearts and minds and help to dismantle the negative stereotypes associated with Substance Use Disorder, addiction, and recovery. - Denise Mariano, Director, Family Support and Advocacy, Partnership to End Addiction