In the heart of a small Wisconsin town, beneath the surface of a seemingly ordinary childhood, lay secrets that would shape a lifetime. Growing up as the youngest of four in a fractured family, the author endured the silent weight of child sexual abuse-a trauma that spiraled into addiction and rehab at just seventeen. Sober for over four decades, this raw and unflinching memoir delves into the journey through darkness, from the struggles of a career as a firefighter/paramedic to the brink of death during an ice diving training accident that left the author unconscious beneath the ice.

That harrowing near-drowning became the turning point, leading to a diagnosis of PTSD and the start of a courageous path to healing. This gripping narrative not only recounts a life shaped by profound challenges but also shares the transformative tools and practices that helped confront and heal traumas long buried beneath the surface. A story of resilience, hope, and redemption, this memoir is a testament to the power of facing the past to reclaim the future.