Meet John Borgstedt – Child Abuse Survivor and Hero for Others

It wouldn’t be accurate if we didn’t shed awareness on the topic of abuse especially in the adoption community.


Abuse is no stranger to the adoption community. Recent news articles could be shared that all tell horrific stories of children being abused by foster and adoptive families. Many members of the adoption triad have suffered from abuse. Whether prior to the adoption journey or on the adoption journey and unless that abuse is healed it is very difficult to move forward in others areas of ones life. 


People often believe that no one could ever possibly understand the abuse that they have lived through. Sometimes that belief holds them back from getting help because they feel like their circumstances are beyond what anyone could ever understand or deal with. Sometimes in life we need to meet other people who have been through what we have. People who have overcome their past experience and gone on to live a life that they have peace about in order to believe we too can make it out.
 
John’s story changes that up..entirely….
 
His story speaks such abusive intensity that it would be difficult for someone to not be able to see a piece of their own story through yours.  I think its crucial to human survival that we all take ownership of our story and decide to be in control of how its going to end. 
 
I saw you John’s story  and knew immediately that he was extraordinary and that his story was a story I had to share… so without any further ado…….<3

John, I’ve learned that you are a Motivational speaker & author whose life story is featured in your book and award winning docudrama: I Love You Mom, Please Don’t Break My Heart.  

Child abuse is a touchy topic that people like to keep private. Tell me about what led you towards knowing that writing was a gift that you had to offer the world?
“I really didn’t know that I had a gift until I started writing my life story. I just knew that my pain and abuse I suffered and how God brought me through it had to be told.”  

Let’s talk specifically about the book that you wrote in which the title alone really tugs at your heart strings: ”  I Love You Mom, Please Don’t Break My Heart“.  Without spoiling it for our viewers give me a brief synopses of the story.   “I LOVE YOU, MOM-Please Don’t Break My Heart is the true story of one boy’s journey through a childhood of physical, mental, and emotional abuse. John endured neglect, isolation, physical beatings, mental degradation and malevolent admissions into numerous mental institutions, and eventual attempted murder within the custodial supervision of his unscrupulous mother. This literary work is indeed John’s factual account of his small, bruised body clinging to life, his struggle as a teenager fighting and winning against insurmountable odds, and his entrance into young manhood as a warrior for the young and innocent, protecting them from experiencing a similar childhood of hell on earth.”

What led you to include sharing about the abuse you endured  in your work?  
“My whole story needed to be told. You see my dad was a police man. So I grew up in a home where no one would suspect it due to who my dad was. There are kids just like me. They need to know they aren’t alone. Endureing the pain knowing it will help others makes it all worth it.

Your story reminds us that there is light and there is ALWAYS HOPE.  I wish every person considering taking their own life could hear these words from you: ” They need to know they can survive, life will get better, there are good people in this world and they do matter. But whatever it takes, I will spend everyday of my life telling my story of learning to live and love so that one child may be saved.”

Tell us about another book that seems to be a biography of your story written by another author. ” AFTERMATH: The Triumph of a Thrown Away Boy” By Sondra Martin Hicks.
I was struck deep by what Sondra said about you and the story that became a part of her own life journey:  ” While John has overcome more trauma and rejection than anyone I’ve ever known, his story is not one of victimization. His life demonstrates the overcoming power of grit and determination, a testament to the life-giving qualities of perseverance and relentless hope. In the pages that follow you will learn about this extraordinary man and how he finds the courage every day to keep going and let a little more of his past hurt fall away. You will travel his path from inmate in solitary confinement to a compassionate warrior fighting for justice for broken children. It’s a story you will not soon forget. It’s a story that may change your own life.- Sondra

Tell us about AfterMath and how this project came to be? 
The book “I love you Mom please Don’t Break my Heart” was a factual book showing records of the abuse. I was told by many that it never happened. With that said I want to show proof and allow reader to see the record themselves. This book led readers to ask more questions wanting more about my full story. Sondra asked if she could interview me and dig deeper in my abuse and I agreed. That’s how it begins. The Book “After Math is a book completing my story where “I love you Mom please don’t break my heart began.”

Any upcoming projects that you might give us a sneak peak about?
“We are looking into doing a major motion picture about my life. It takes alot of money and we are in the process of looking for investor to make it happen. We have started the ball rolling but alot of prayer is still needed. It will happen in God’s timing.”

Is there anything else you would like to share with us about your journey?
“I would like to encourage each and everyone of your listeners to be part of the solution of stomping abuse out. We all have a CAC and CASA centers around us. Volunteer it can be life changing for you and the abused child. I spend all my down time helping abuse children any way I can. I speak out about abuse I council adults about their abuse and I give back to child advocate centers. We can all do our part. It’s hard for me to speak out but I do knowing I my save a child. If we could all do our part no child would be abused.”

How might others connect with you? and where can they order a copy of your books?

You can contact me via mail @
John Borgstedt
P.0. BOX 1201 
Canton, Texas 75103
FACE BOOK” Under John Borgstedt
TWITTER “John Borgstedt

You can find the Docudrama 
“I love you Mom please don’t break my heart ” on Amazon,Pureflix,Apple store.  
www.heartstonepictures.com

You can order all Books online through Amazon by clicking here or go to your local Barns&Noble.

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If you or someone you know is being abused please get help today. Help is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

National Abuse Hotline: (800) 422-4453

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