Acknowledgments

I want to start by thanking everyone for all the love, support, donations, gifts, and prayers. It was because of you that I was able to start a new life. I want you to know I am healthy and happy. Yes, I went through hell and back, but I survived. I do not let the situation define me. I define the situation. And I hope that I can inspire other survivors to do the same.

I want to thank my literary agent, Lacy Lynch; my public relations representative, Lorraine Schuchart; and my lawyer, Christina Evans, for their dedication, guidance, and support in telling this story.

Thanks to the Dupree/Miller team: CEO Jan Miller, Shannon Marven, Nena Madonia, Donald Griffin, and the rest of the team for your advocacy and early championship of me and my cause.

I also want to thank the team at Hachette Book Group: Amanda Murray, Georgina Levitt, and Mollie Weisenfeld.

Appreciation goes to Susanna Margolis and Lorraine Schuchart for help in writing this book.

I want to acknowledge the entire team at Prosper for Purpose for their direction and support over the past two years. I am grateful to Hahn Loeser & Parks for helping me create my team of advisers.

This book would not have been possible without my safe circle: my true friends. Thank you for believing in me, for being there when I needed you, for accepting me for who I am. I am truly blessed to have you in my life.

To the love of my life, you have played a major part of my life. You have stood by my side, despite any obstacles I have faced. You have always believed in me, especially when others didn’t. You have accepted me without judgment and loved me unconditionally. I am truly blessed to have you to share my sunrise and sunset with.