How does one acknowledge such a vast array of travel and interconnections with an abundance of people and places? I can start by humbly saying thank you for still being here. Firstly, to the spirit within for never giving up, even when mind and body had lost the fight. To my beautiful children, my guardian angels, Sonny and Ruby. If that picture of you had not been brought to me while I was unconscious, sadly I would have just being another statistic. To Indi and family in the UK and my family in Ireland, thank you for your prayers and help. It wasn’t an easy journey, even before illness, having a child/brother/friend and husband with a way of life in war; the sleepless nights and worry.
There are so many others to mention, and I thank all for every part you have played and continue to play. To the kindness of strangers and the patience of friends and family. For this book, my editor Linsey Hague for her support, advice and eye for detail, and for helping me through some of the problematic editorial processes with vision and integrity. Thank you also to Pamela Covey for her editorial prowess in the later stages of completing this book’s editing journey.
I am thankful for the guidance and opportunities bestowed upon me from Helen Lewis and the team at Literally PR, whose ideas looked at many aspects of the book from different points of view. I am very fortunate to have Helen as my agent, also. To Heather Williams and Tara Moran at Pen and Sword for all their assistance and hard work.
To all those I have met, many of whom have become friends in my journey, and which for various reasons I cannot mention them all. However, you all know who you are and so thank you for your help. I would like to thank Tony Gibson for his support and guidance throughout my recovery, and Kyra Dobson for her generosity of spirit and understanding, inspiring the best of me from the moment I put pen to paper.
To those I have fought and served along side. Thank you for being there in battle and for your courage; it is an honour and a privilege to go into battle together. And to those on the receiving end of the battlefield, thank you also for your conviction to stand and fight; I respect your courage.
To those still in the trenches; do not lose hope. Victory may seem a distant memory, but this is the battle that counts the most. Many of you have not been to war, but that war can be an inner conflict. Your pain, your suffering is no less, neither are your wounds from your own battles. It matters not how war found us, what matters most is how we find peace, and what life we make from our peace.
Last by no means least, I thank the universe for always delivering what I asked for, whether I liked it or not. Enjoy.