In Memory of Susan Murphy Milano

Today (Oct.28) marks the 1 year anniversary of Susan's death. What better way to remember her than to read and learn from the posts that she left behind. There are literally thousands of messages from her at Murphy Milano's Journal, all indignantly calling for the safety of abuse victims.

"But for those fearful or unable to seek service from a domestic violence shelter provider, there is a book available that will take a victim from living in fear to a plan, with a roadmap to safety. "

MurphyMilano's Journal

DocumentTheAbuse.Com

HoldingMyHandThroughHell.Com

ConqueringCancer.Me

Related articles

• The Roth Show: Anny Jacoby Discusses Personal Safety Planning for Domestic Violence Victims (imaginepublicity.com)
• Michelle S. Cruz Talks to Dr. Laurie Roth About Rights of Domestic Violence Victims (imaginepublicity.com)
• Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Change Is Here, Action! (imaginepublicity.com)
• Your Health is Wealth with Dr. Akoury: Domestic Violence Awareness Month (imaginepublicity.com)
• Neil Schori Keynote Speaker at "Take Back the Night" Event (imaginepublicity.com)

Holding Her Hand Towards Heaven

On Monday, October 1, Susan made the decision to suspend her treatment and let nature take its course with the cancer.

I knew that once her decision was made there was no turning back this time, and although angry at first, I accept and honor her decision as I know her friends and followers will as well.  Susan  tried to write this post herself, but her energy levels are declining and I hope that I can honorably speak for her.

Anyone who has been around cancer knows the toll it takes on the body, mind, and spirit. Susan tried hard, often rallying and giving us all hope that she would stay in the fight, but the abusive cancer attacked her too strongly, and she felt that there was no more hope that she could diffuse the outcome.

She is quickly declining without the daily care of Dr. Akoury and the treatments she was getting and it's obvious now just how well the treatments were working, and how without them she is falling prey to the disease.

Susan has a wonderful team of Hospice caretakers who come in to help her, along with Dr. Akoury and myself, we've welcomed the visits of her closest friends. Through the tears and anguish we all realize that she has made peace within herself and accepted the outcome, but ask ourselves can we find that peace as well?

The only thing missing is Susan's family.

I have to speak to Susan's son and her sister: Although you've made very angry and ugly remarks to her publicly and privately, she always has a deep love for you. The same blood that runs through your body runs through hers and you can never change that fact. There comes a time when forgiveness must take place and for whatever wrongs you feel she has done to you, I assure you they are nothing in comparison to the pain she's experiencing knowing she will never be able to touch you, hug you, or hear your voices again.

I may not be able to change your hearts or your minds, but my wish is that you find a way to soften your bitterness and contact her before it's too late. If you would like to do that, please leave a comment here and I'll make it happen. I know you read the blogs often. Please reach out to her, no mother should have to die thinking her only child hates her.

She leaves you only a legacy of hope. Hope that you will grow into the man she envisioned, strong yet compassionate, not angry and bitter, with the capacity to love as she has loved you. Her new book, Holding My Hand Through Hell was written with you in mind, so that you would know the truth from her perspective, and that you would see what made your mother who she is and why she did the things she did.

I will hold her hand until she enters heaven because God placed that responsibility on me, at great cost to my own family and the families of her friends. This experience is one I never, ever thought I would have to do, not prepared for, nor do I want to, and I only hope I have the courage to carry through.

Susan wants everyone to know how much she appreciates the cards, letters, gifts and donations that will help defray the costs of both her medical bills already incurred and her end of life expenses, and especially the LOVE that has poured all over her from you.

Her wish is that donations will continue so that those who helped her will be paid what they are owed. She also hopes that everyone will do all they can to make Holding My Hand Through Hell a huge success, so the world will know that although life can be hell, with the hand of God we can all make it a better place for somebody.

We don't know the day or the hour that Susan will be taken from us, but she's comfortably waiting in the arms of angels who I'm sure will hold her hand as she enters heaven.

Delilah

HOLDING MY HAND THROUGH HELL Officially Launching at Heartland Fall Forum

Well known for her hands-on work with victims of violence, and through her previous books, HOLDING MY HAND THROUGH HELL is based on the true story of Susan Murphy Milano’s life, written with the flow of a novel, in a style that will incite heightened awareness about hope, survival, abuse, murder, and the ripple effect of family violence on society.

The official publisher's launch of Holding My Hand Through Hell will be held at the Heartland Fall Forum, a trade show, conference, and celebration of independent bookselling hosted by the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association and the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association.

Ice Cube Press' Steve Semken, publisher of Holding My Hand Through Hell, and one of author Susan Murphy Milano's dear friends and fellow author, Jillian Maas Backman, will hold the official launch party on the airwaves, Thursday, October 4,  with a live broadcast on her popular internet radio show, Change Already!  

To listen to the LIVE broadcast CLICK HERE

Due to her battle with cancer, Susan is unable to personally participate in the launch, but is on the sidelines cheering its success thanks to her friends and large fan base.

Holding My Hand Through Hell is much more than a story of survival, the book is a re-enactment of how God reaches through the fire of chaos and brings peace and hope. A woman questioning her faith through a multitude of experiences finds herself continually in the midst of battle, within her own relationships, and through the thousands of high risk intimate partner violence victims whom she rescued and became a thread in the tapestry of her life.

"More than a memoir Holding My Hand Through Hell is like a true crime drama played out through the years of one woman's life."

The premise of Holding My Hand Through Hell is gripping, yet heart wrenching, and readers say they are compelled to follow Murphy Milano through her journey to the end. After years of torment and abuse, her Chicago Police Department father murdered her mother in the family home, and took his own life,  but Murphy-Milano decided not to be another crime victim, but to survive the worst tragedy of her life and make sure it didn't happen to others. Leaving a lucrative career as an investment banker, she spent the next 20 years in the trenches with other victims of abuse, like her mother, enriching the lives of each and every one who enlisted her help.

Often shunned by traditional domestic violence organizations, Susan Murphy-Milano became like a one man band, utilizing unique strategies specific to each individual she helped. Using her connections within courtrooms and the media, she found herself face to face with some of the worst abusers, often questioning whether God would bring her through the next crisis.

Join in the live radio launch party of HOLDING MY HAND THROUGH HELL on Thursday October 4 at noon central time, 1 eastern time with Jillian Maas Backman and Ice Cube Press Publisher, Steve Semken LIVE from Heartland Fall Forum. 

Ice Cube Press, a small publisher who still individually wraps each order, represents the heartland of America and it's authors, striving to bring Midwest living and the experience to the forefront in the digital age.  Ice Cube press is a member in good standing with the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association, and also participates in the Great Lakes Bookseller Association Trade Show, combining this year as The Heartland Fall Forum.

Jillian Maas Backman is an award-winning radio personality and author of BEYOND THE PEWS: Breaking with Tradition and Letting Go of Religious Lockdown, a San Francisco Book Festival Award winning book.  Her radio show, Change Already! can be heard weekly on BlogTalk Radio.

Murphy Milano Journal on Hiatus

While working through her current health crisis, Susan Murphy-Milano's Journal is taking a break.

Please follow her current blog, Conquering Cancer, for the latest updates on her battle with cancer. Readers who would like to assist Susan in covering her medical expenses can find ways to help at the blog, as well as alternative ways to contribute.

Susan's newest book, HOLDING MY HAND THROUGH HELL, will be released in October, 2012, and is now available for pre-order through Ice Cube Press and Amazon.


We expect that she will be back to writing when her energy level dictates that she's able.