Dear Anita,

thank you so much for your very helpful response, I will reply in depth tomorrow as I’m very tired now.

There is something I would like to say though, because in my head I have a carousel of thoughts going round and round after reading that your childhood was your “private holocaust”.  It is so stunning to me to read this (stunned as in being knocked senseless).  I am deeply, deeply saddened to read this and it seems to me that there is nothing I can say which could in any way begin to meet you in your childhood experience.  In fact it almost feels like anything I could say might be in danger of trivialising what your experience has been.

I just hope that you have since met wonderful people who have warmly and tenderly held you and hugged you, and held your hand, and rocked you gently.  And I hope there are people like that in your life now, people who care for you with their actions, who honour you and give you a feeling of safety and home.

Heartfelt hugs,

Juanita