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JoninAustin's avatar

Tough to read, but artfully written. Thank you for sharing such a personal story. As a child, my father endured a similar family situation that has long haunted us despite great efforts to conceal the events. But you can't hide the old newspapers forever. Suffice to say, my 10 year old father witnessed the horrific beating death of his mother at the hands of my mentally unbalanced grandfather. While abortion did not play a part, the failure of society to provide proper treatment for a mentally ill young man is common to both stories. My father and his sister overcame the horrors of these events to lead happy, successful lives.

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Patrick's avatar

Incredibly personal and compelling piece, Jim. I appreciate your sharing it with us.

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