Michelle L. Potter - From Hell to Rebirth: A True Story of Long-Term Suffering with Chronic Illness, Addiction, and Lyme Transformed by the Will to Live

FROM HELL TO
REBIRTH

A True Story of Long-Term Suffering with Chronic Illness,
Addiction, and Lyme Transformed by the Will to Live

MICHELLE L. POTTER

Copyright 2020 Michelle L. Potter.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means,
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any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author
except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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ISBN: 978-1-9822-5584-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9822-5585-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9822-5610-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020919225

Balboa Press rev. date: 09/29/2020

DISCLAIMER

The information provided in From Hell to Rebirth is for informational and educational
purposes only. The author, Michelle L. Potter, is not a licensed medical doctor
and does not offer medical, psychological, or any other professional advice that
prescribes or provides any type of medical diagnosis, treatment, medications, cures
for disease, or remedies that can only be given by a licensed medical doctor.

Statements made in this book have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug
Administration (FDA). You should always consult and seek the advice of a qualified
health care practitioner with any questions you might have regarding your medical
condition or as it specifically relates to any protocols that the author discusses
about her own journey with addictions, chronic illness, and Lyme Disease.

Some names and identifying details have been changed
to protect the privacy of individuals.

DEDICA TION

First, and above all, I would like to thank God. You have given me the power to believe in my passion, pursue my dreams, and open and close doors that only You can open and close. You carried me when I needed carrying, you walked beside me when I needed assistance, and you comforted me even in the darkest hours, in the pits of hell, when I wasnt being obedient. You gave me strength and courage to write this book, to be vulnerable, and to be a voice for others who cannot speak for themselves. I have been redeemed, forgiven, and saved from the enemys hit on my life. Thank you for keeping me here on Earth longer to fulfill your work of serving and helping others to heal from their life experiences, traumas, and illnesses. I am forever grateful and will glorify and honor You until you bring me home to the heavens.

To my heart and world, Steve, Brynin, and Kylie. I am one blessed wife and momma. Writing this book has been extremely difficultreliving the past, letting go, and being present in the moment. But its been necessary for healing and rewarding all at the same time. None of this would have been possible without the support, care, encouragement, laughter, and unconditional love you gave me. You never wavered on believing and loving mefrom my brightest days to my darkest hours. Every day is about going on new adventures and making new memories together. For that I am forever grateful! Forever Stars and Moon!

Your life is a sacred jou rney.
And it is about change, growth, discovery, movement, transforma tion,
continuously expanding your vision of what is possible, stretching y our
soul, learning to see clearly and deeply, listening to your intuition, tak ing
courageous challenges at every step along the way. You are on the path
exactly where you are meant to be right now And from here, you
can only go forward, shaping your life story into a magnificent tale of
triumph, of healing of courage, of beauty, of wisdom, of power, of dig nity,
and of love.
~ Caroline Adam

CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1

THE BEGINNING

We must know who we are and where we are.
~ Donna Goddard

I was born and raised in the small town of Gibson, Louisiana, a community in Terrebonne Parish, and our house sat right across the street from a Louisiana bayou called Bayou Black. The bayou led out to the Intracoastal Waterway, which connected to the Atchafalaya River, which eventually poured into the Gulf of Mexico. Thats the route my parents would take to go shrimping, and I would sometimes go with them. The swamp was literally in our backyard, and the mosquitoes were so plentiful they could almost carry you away at night. The sound of rain frogs and bullfrogs filled the air at night, too, and alligators swam in the bayou and made their homes in the ditches.

My grandparents on my moms side lived next door to usus being my mom and dad and my sister, Shanna, and my brother, Jesseand my other set of grandparents lived about ten minutes away. Since my parents were away from home a lottheyd be on their boat, shrimping, all through May and AugustId spend many days over at the house of Maw Maw and Paw Paw, my moms parents. In fact, any time I didnt want to be at my parents houseand there were manyId head over across the yard to spend time with Maw Maw, mostly. By the time I was four or five, Maw Maw and Paw Paw started taking me camping with them for a weekend or so. Thats when I discovered my love of nature.

I never wanted to be inside if I didnt have to be. Being inside felt like a prison to me sometimes; I just loved being outdoors too much. Nature nurtured me and provided me with a sense of calmness. It was just so soothing to my soul. The earthy, grounding sensation I got from the outdoors lifted my spirits and connected me to something bigger than myself. I loved being barefoot, rolling around in some mud so much that I got into a lot of trouble because I refused to keep shoes on my feet. It really was my happy place.

We had lots of animals hanging around with us when I was growing up. Youd find dogs, goats, rabbits, chickens, ducks, owls, and even a pet nutria, which looks a little like a small beaver. On our street, everybody considered our house the animal drop-off place. But both my mom and I loved rescuing animalsit was one of the few things we shared and continue to share to this day. Wed get stray dogs coming by and staying around, and wed make little sweaters and little hats for them so theyd stay warm. I loved sitting outside with them. They all wanted to sit in my lap and have me hold them.