Strength of Scars

by Avonley Lightstone

At just three years old, I was faced with an unimaginable try to save my mother from a raging fire, or watch her scream in flames. With my father unconscious from alcohol, I was the only hope for my mother. I hugged her with my tiny arms as the flames consumed us both. I suffered severe burns, and tragically, my mother didn't survive.



What followed was a life no child should endure. My fight for survival was only the beginning of a journey marked by pain, loss, and a battle to find hope. I was adopted into an American family, but the idea of a loving home was a distant dream. Instead, I faced abuse and more rejection.



Through the darkest of days, I discovered that even in the midst of deep sorrow, there was a flicker of light. It was in the whispers of faith, the strength of my spirit, and the grace of God that I found the courage to rebuild. This book is the story of my survival. Overcoming unimaginable odds to heal a heart that was shattered.



This isn't just the story of a child's trauma. It's the story of resilience. Finding grace in the face of unimaginable hardship, and the unshakeable faith that carried me through. It's a journey from fire to ashes, from a broken past into a life of renewed hope.

302 pages, Hardcover

Published May 4, 2025