My Journey Through Hell: Finding My True Worth

“By the grace of God, I’m lucky to be alive.” Karen Slater.Karen grew up believing she was worth nothing, told by her parents on a daily basis she was a useless excuse for a human being. She was beaten and abused and exposed to the dangers of a rough council estate in Newcastle’s West End. Glue sniffing was her first escape until she found a new friend at the bottom of a vodka bottle. As she left the family home and made her way into the big wide world, it seemed only natural that the father of her child would take over the violence where her own father had left off. But he took it to another level as one particular assault with fists, boots and a hunting knife left her for dead. Her life became a drunken blur as she spiralled out of control and eventually there was only one way out. She was found just in time and in intensive care she watched a slowing heart monitor and begged her God to let her die.And then something strange happened as almost immediately her heart rate began to improve and a spiritual surge coursed through her body. She found hope and optimism and someone somewhere was talking to her, telling her that this was rock bottom and the only way was up. As she drifted in and out of consciousness spoke to her, told her that she had something to live for, a purpose, because why should people be made to suffer the way she had? She had to live, had to talk to the abused, help the victims of domestic violence, those who had been raped and the alcoholics and the addicts. The day she left hospital Karen Slater bought some exercise books and some pens and began to write. This is her story, her message to the world.