When a child experiences a life that brings trauma and abuse how can they grow up to be compassionate and whole? Will life be numbed by opioids to survive, only to one day be faced with a decision? The author shares her very authentic emotions about substance abuse, being raised by an alcoholic parent, drowning in toxic relationships and grieving the loss of her only child. If you believe in angels, Dora surely has had her share helping her to survive. Her instant fix and solution, is part of the paradigm of our social behavior. We are missing out on the joy from within as Dora realized the day she woke up. Her human experience is one of many that borders on the treacherous line of the crisis of addiction. Compelling, impactful and inspirational. Dora wants to help others realize they can do anything when they make a decision for their life. She has been providing grief support to moms who have lost their children. Her mission is to wake up those in abusive relationships to find the way out and be who you desire. She believes her one true angel, her son Michael, brought her through the process of writing her story to help everyone that needs one ray of hope. Despite all she had to experience in life, her heart remains open. Dora has compassion for humankind and believes it's time to keep her promise with God.
EDITORIAL REVIEWS
“UNMISTAKENLY POWERFUL! With every paragraph you will be able to feel the pain to comfort, the guilt to forgiveness and addiction to the path of becoming clean. This read will leave you understanding her sadness turning to guilt and using drugs for answers, while putting her life into perspective after thirty years of questions. Dora’s book will make you realize how precious life is and how handling death, alcoholism and forgiveness is the path to overcoming an addiction. You will be amazed at her strength.”
- Judith Horn, Photographer
“Grabbing tissues while reading the author's love letter to Michael, her son, I tried to comprehend how a mother survives the death of their only child. My tears flowed while reading the gut-wrenching account of his death and funeral. Dora has seen the best and worst of life. She openly shares the experiences as an opioid addict. I could feel her depth of emotions in every line. She is a true survivor. Readers, grab a box of tissues.”
- Patty Pascua, LMT, Editor
“Reflections of an Angel is a raw, vulnerable, personal account of a woman who has traveled the roads of hell and survived, again and again. Despite being brutalized as a child, abused, the death of her only child, Dora rises above it all time and again. Her journey reminds me that we are all affected by what occurs in our childhood, regardless of whether we think we are or not. I am inspired to rise above past circumstances, to conquer, to keep moving forward. Dora’s story is authentic, genuine, real in a way that most are not even close to, moving me to tears more than once. Inspiring, giving hope to all, addict or not. This is a must read.”
- Lyn Williams, Intuitive Artist and Designer
“Reflections of an Angel is a powerful story of love and faith, two core components for survival. You become emotionally invested from the beginning to end. This book is a testimony to any grief stricken, chemical dependent addict, and anger issue individual looking for the inspiration for recovery.”
- Angela Jones Taul, RN, LMT, Author of The Mirror of Inner Beauty: Illuminating the Essence of Your Soul
“I loved how Dora was brutally honest in her words of weakness in grieving and overcoming addiction, it made me want to read more to see her strength in overcoming all she had endured.”
- Bonnie Bonadeo, Author, Branding and Speaking coach
