Book to help survivors of sexual abuse now in its second printing

If anyone knows about survival, it is Meri Kennedy (Geller) of Cranston, a reporter and columnist for the Cranston Herald, Johnston Sun Rise and Warwick Beacon newspapers.

Her book, “My Enemy, Myself: A Journey Through Surviving Childhood Sexual Abuse and Trauma,” has now entered its second printing. It is available through Amazon as both a paperback and digital version.

Told from a first-person perspective, the book outlines Kennedy’s journey. After it was first published in 2006, it drew many touching reviews from survivors and members of the mental health field.

“They told me they understood their clients more,” Kennedy said. “I had two reasons for telling my story. First, to have the ability to tell. I was abused by my late and oldest brother prior to entering kindergarten at Eden Park Elementary School, and the abuse continued for years in our white picket fenced in home not far from Blackamore Pond. I was not allowed to tell until later in life and after extensive therapy with Dr. Michael J. Silvia of Cranston, who also provides the introduction of the book.”

She added: “The other reason is I wanted to help others … to understand that they are not alone and that the feelings, emotions, thought patterns are part of the process.”

Kennedy has faced many challenges in her life in addition to surviving sexual abuse, rape and molestation. She is a 13-year breast cancer survivor and is disabled due to a painful chronic illness called gastroparesis.

Kennedy also said the high-profile case of Jeffrey Epstein in the national news recently led her to a new realization – that she had been abused by a man with whom she had been involved when she was 14 and he was in his 30s.

“I did not see it as abuse back then,” Kennedy said. “I was already abused. To me, he got me out of the home and took care of me. Then, bang! The pieces came flooding back and I can now see he did abuse me.”

With the topic of sexual abuse and rape being covered so intensely in the media, Kennedy felt that more victims could identify with her journey and she wanted her story to inspire others.

“People are coming forward about their abuse, and sadly it seems more each day,” she said. “I want to play a part in their healing. I was alone.”

Kennedy spoke of recently coming across a used copy of her book. In its pages, she found an ocean of red ink – passages underlined and notes in the margins, all referencing things to which the reader had related.

“I took it as a sign,” she said. “There in my hands was my book helping someone in need.”

The second printing of “My Enemy, Myself” is available for $9.99 in paperback and $4.99 for the Kindle version. It includes a new cover design and epilogue.

A 1985 graduate from Rhode Island College, Kennedy has served as the director of the Cranston Chamber of Commerce and has been a reporter for the past 24 years. She will be inducted into the Cranston Hall of Fame on Oct. 25 at the Alpine Country Club.