I grew up with a tremendous amount of sexual abuse from a very early age. I went through a lot of self-destructive behavior, hospitalizations, and an eating disorder early in life. I went into foster care as a teen where the sexual abuse continued. I became an emancipated minor at the age of 16 and then lived on my own while working full time. I got married when I was 18 and had 3 children right away (3 under the age of 3).We started doing foster care when our youngest was about 4. At one point we had 8 children 8 and under. I started nursing school when we had nine children living in our home. Over the course of the next 25 years we fostered well over 100 children and took permanent legal guardianship of 10 girls. My husband got cancer and suffered with cancer for 12 years before passing away in 2006.I had 4 girls living at home at that time and took in another one a few months after my husband died. I completed 3 legal guardianships that first year after he died. I was a single mom and working full time. I started my master’s degree 12 days after he passed away. I remarried in 2010 and by that time was in a doctoral program getting my doctorate degree.I finished it and continued to do medical mission trips all over the world (I have done about 30). I then went back to school and got my post doctorate degree and am now double boarded as an Advance Practice Nurse (FNP and CNS). My youngest son passed away in 2021 after an 8 year battle with cancer and his story continues to inspire all who knew him. My biggest encouragement to people is to NEVER give up and never remain a victim. Use what challenges life has given you and learn to develop a passion to help others overcome theirs. I have seen in my own life how God turned my sexual abuse into a deep passion to help others who might have had similar experiences. My second husband and I have recently started a medical clinic in northern India that cares for over 140 girls rescued from sex trafficking and other abuses. Without having gone through my struggles, I would have never developed the passions I have had to help others. I coauthored a book about my life and how God has used my struggles to develop passion and purpose in my life. I have a website that shares more about my book, my mission trips, and my life story. https://phillisdewitt.com In the past six months, I have been able to share some about my story in Israel, Mexico, India, England, Costa Rica, Romania, and Ukraine. My husband and I just returned from doing war relief efforts in Romana and Ukraine working with women and children who have lost everything due to their homes being bombed. I currently teach at 4 colleges in their graduate nursing programs and continue to see patients once a week when I am in Florida (we live there 6 months out of the year) at a free clinic that serves those who are living within 200 % of the Federal Poverty Level. My second husband and I have started 4 endowment scholarships to other students have access to an education that might not otherwise be able to. I have received many local, state and national awards for my work with families and victims of trauma.
Please go to Phillis's website to either seek help or help other people.
If you have a life struggle to share, please contact me @ strugglesarehard@gmail.com
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