April is a time of transition and rebirth. As the season changes from the deep freeze of winter, we watch as mother nature sheds her winter cloak and gives birth to another cycle of nature’s bloom.
As humans, we also go through rebirth and transformation in our own way and in our own lives.
These transformations are meant to help us grow through difficult times as we learn more about ourselves and lean into our own greater awareness. We grow a little older and hopefully a little wiser.
For this month of Reawakening and Transformation, I am honouring and sharing the story of a dear friend and client Bernadette Erb. She has given me permission to share her story and my big, yet little part in it. My eyes well up as I write.
Bernadette is one of the bravest, strongest and most loving women I know. I have met many women and men who have walked a very difficult journey, myself included. Bernadette is brave enough to write about it and shares it with the world in her recently published book Silver Linings – www.silverliningsheal.com
In her book, Bernadette shares her story as a child dealing with abuse and trauma, her journey through two cancers, Biofeedback’s involvement in her recovery, and how she dug deep within herself and persevered.
The book was a conduit of healing. During this difficult process, she mentioned that if she could just help one person, then it would all be worth it. If she could heal, then hopefully her story would give others the hope and strength to do it too. It would be her silver lining! She strongly felt this as her purpose and the reason for her trauma. I strongly agree.
Bernadette came to me as a friend and client at a very desperate time in her life. She had been diagnosed with leukemia, five years after her first diagnosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She struggled with two different cancers for ten years.
I must say that Bernadette coming to see me was very difficult at times. In the beginning, Bernadette was very sick, physically and mentally. She was not always receptive to the information received from her Biofeedback sessions.
She was in a haze, in constant pain, and her brain and body were addicted to pharmaceuticals.
She had so much going on. Her whole being was overwhelmed!
There were many times throughout this healing journey that she did not want to live any longer due to her emotional and physical pain.
But I knew that she had the capacity to heal. I made it my mission, just like many of her friends and loved ones, to remind her of that whenever we could.
I was certain of her healing ability because Biofeedback told me that she indeed was able to do it. It even indicated what the problem was. Now, educating and helping Bernadette understand that was the hardest part.
For months I worked with her in Biofeedback sessions. She would get better and then fall sick again. The reason was always the same, it never wavered.
In desperation, and after many visits to the emergency room, she insisted the doctors take her seriously and that it wasn’t just in her head and that the symptoms she was having were psychosomatic.
Finally, her doctors confirmed what Biofeedback had known from the very beginning. That was the game-changer for Bernadette. While it took months for her to hear me, it took doctors several more months and numerous trips to the emergency room to finally hear her.
Bernadette is very lucky to be with us. And in Silver Linings, she shares her entire story from the beginning of her childhood trauma to where she is now.
This book isn’t for the faint or weak-hearted. She took a giant leap of faith and understood that even though it would be a painful process, healing was possible. Her story needed to be shared. Bernadette’s experience can help others understand that they can do and overcome anything, even the most adverse circumstances.
Rise above and shine. Find purpose again. Find your light.
Thank you Bernadette for choosing me. For trusting me and my faith in you. For putting up with my incessant determination to help you see what I always knew! I’m honoured to be part of your story. You have also shown me that I am important too, and what persistence can do!
