Ashes to Flame

Transforming Trauma into Purpose

De: Donna Simmons

Narrado por: Donna Simmons

Childhood trauma leads to perseverance and personal growth in this empowering memoir.

Born into a world shrouded by multi-generational cycles of abuse and child marriages, Donna Simmons navigates a harrowing landscape of pain and betrayal, detailing the challenges that devastated her early years but ultimately did not define the person she became.

Through poignant storytelling, she shares both moments of despair and the small victories that fueled her resilience. Each chapter reveals the transformative process of healing and self-discovery, touching on the importance of embracing nature, finding solace in creativity, and connecting with a community. Ashes to Flame recounts a powerful, deeply personal, and transformative journey from the ashes of childhood trauma to the vibrant light of purpose.

©2024 Donna Simmons (P)2025 Donna Simmons

How a horrible life can be turned around even with barriers at every turn

The story was so powerful that my stomach ached. But what a powerful ending. You go girl!!

This is the book that needed to be written

This book touched places in my soul that had been deeply buried for most of my life. Like Donna, I also was married at 16 to an older man who was my boss at my first job. (In my case, I married as a way to escape a very violent and abusive home. My father was so violent, I lived in constant fear that he might even kill me during one of his manic episodes.) After our marriage, I was forced to move away from my family & friends because my husband was relocated to Kentucky. Many of our experiences are so similar that I found myself becoming very emotional as I relived some of my own childhood trauma. Let me reemphasis that ..".CHILDhood " trauma. We are talking about children who cannot not legally make contractual decisions for themselves. Children who are victimized by abusive, neglectful, toxic parents who permit their children to be stripped of their childhood and violated to their core. Children who are given over as property. My ex-husband used to say that he "liked me" and we "got along just fine" until I became old enough to "think for myself" (which started happening in my late teens & early 20's).

Donna's voice sounds like an angel and my heart ached for the pain that she endured. Her strength and resiliency are inspiring, and I am so sorry that these things happened.

Thank you, Donna, for being brave enough to share your story and for becoming such an empowering advocate for so many young women who are still being exploited. You've done more than just share your story.... you've started a powerful movement.

Globally, may we all unite together to change laws, protect children, and empower women.