Ep 12 Maggie's Story, Part 3: "I Like Who I Am" - Healing From a Lifetime of Trauma

Trigger warning: grief and the death of a parent, a serious medical event (stroke), and ongoing healing from trauma. This episode is lighter than Parts 1 and 2, but please take care of yourself. Resources are below.This is Part 3 - the finale. If you haven't listened from the beginning, start with Part 1 first. This story is worth hearing in order.She left. She got out. Her son was in the seat next to her.Part 3 is what happened after.Freedom doesn't mean the hard stuff stops. Maggie still carried the fear in her body - still said sorry too many times, still flinched when she spilled something. Fifty years of survival doesn't pack up and leave just because the circumstances change.But something else happened too. A man named Darrin showed up, patient in a way she had never experienced. Her son became someone she is endlessly proud of. And slowly, then all at once, Maggie started to find her way back to herself.Part 3 covers: starting over and watching her son thrive - what it felt like to be loved without conditions for the first time - losing her mother and the last phone call she almost didn't take - the morning in 2019 when she had a stroke at work and was airlifted to the hospital - learning to walk, talk, and think again - the grief, the arthritis, the art she came back to - and what she found, at fifty years old: peace. A self she actually likes."I would do it all again to be where I am right now."If you need supportCrisis/Suicide: 988 (US/CA) · Samaritans 116 123 (UK/IE) · Lifeline 13 11 14 (AU) · 0800 543 354 (NZ) | 988lifeline.orgDomestic Violence: 1-800-799-7233 (US) · 0808 2000 247 (UK) · sheltersafe.ca (CA) · 1800RESPECT 1800 737 732 (AU) · Women's Aid 1800 341 900 (IE) · Are You OK 0800 456 450 (NZ)Stroke Recovery: stroke.org (US) · stroke.org.uk (UK) · heartandstroke.ca (CA) · strokefoundation.org.au (AU) · irishheart.ie (IE) · stroke.org.nz (NZ)Mental Health: SAMHSA 1-800-662-4357 samhsa.gov (US) · Mind 0300 123 3393 mind.org.uk (UK) · crisisservicescanada.ca (CA) · Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 (AU) · mentalhealthireland.ie (IE) · mentalhealth.org.nz (NZ)Website: anchormomentspod.comInstagram: @anchormomentspodIf Maggie's story moved you, share it. These stories only do their work when they travel.