About a Baby: Story of a Child Abuse Survivor

About a Baby is a story of the resilience of the human will, the courage to face one's demons, and the ability to emerge from a childhood of anguish as a more courageous person. This is Keith's story. Enduring a cruel act of abuse that left him noticeably scarred for life, Keith learned that what did not kill him must make him stronger, or else the abuse he suffered would become self-abuse. As a fourteen month-old baby, he was forced to forever bear the evidence of his torture, but he ultimately came to see that only through forgiveness could he begin to embrace his physical differences. Keith recounts his early years: the first moment he understood that he was "different;" the ridicule he felt for his differences at the tender age of four; and the anger, frustration, and loneliness that resulted throughout his childhood. To many, he is considered a victim of child abuse; however, Keith prefers the term child abuse survivor. A survivor is someone who uses the evil deeds done toward him as a means to help others improve themselves. A survivor is someone who chooses to see the power in forgiveness and a life of worship. A survivor is someone who faces the cruelness in the world and gives back more than could ever be imagined. This is Keith's story.

About the Author :
They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. That's certainly the case when it comes to author and public speaker Keith Edmonds. Experiencing a childhood marred by tragedy, he was faced early on with choices no child should ever have to make. "When something tragic in life occurs, you have three choices: you can bottle it up, develop resentment, or face the situation head-on - the third being the choice I've made." It is with this resilient attitude that Keith, despite the resonating effects of his tragedy, has been able to build a life he loves and share his story with others. Where most children's memories begin with riding bikes and playing with neighborhood friends, Keith's began in a more sinister way. The son of single mother, Brenda, his biological father, had never been a part of his life. When Keith was just 14 months old, Brenda began dating her neighbor's brother, Michael Allen. "He was a guy that was always around and was really playful with Keith - he seemed like a nice guy." Nonetheless, things aren't always what they seem. On November 18th, 1978, things took an unexpected turn. After being drugged, his mother woke to screaming and soon discovered the unimaginable: her son had sustained third degree burns to his face. Unsure as to how it happened, Keith soon became a ward of the state of Michigan and spent four months in the hospital recovering from his burns. Allen, soon confessed and the evidence supported his involvement in Keith's burning and he went on to spend 14 years in prison. His mother, who still has no recollection of that night, was inevitably cleared by the court system and regained custody of Keith.