How much pain can one person carry before it becomes part of who they are?
For most of her life, Jerrie Sue Blanchard carried burdens that no child should ever have to bear.
Behind the smiles, behind the responsibilities of motherhood, and behind the outward appearance of an ordinary life lived a young girl struggling to survive childhood abuse, family trauma, fear, rejection, poverty, and years of emotional wounds that would follow her well into adulthood.
As the years passed, those wounds never truly disappeared.
Instead, they found another place to hide.
Food became comfort.
Food became protection.
Food became a way to silence memories that refused to stay buried.
In 63 and Shedding, Jerrie opens her heart and shares the deeply personal story of a life shaped by unimaginable hardship, yet sustained by faith, resilience, and an unwavering determination to keep moving forward.
From growing up in a small Southern community, to surviving abuse at the hands of those who should have protected her, to enduring domestic violence, fear, loneliness, and years of emotional struggle, Jerrie takes readers on a journey through some of the darkest chapters of her life with remarkable honesty and courage.
But this is not simply a story about pain.
It is a story about survival.
It is a story about finding strength when there seems to be none left.
It is a story about discovering that the scars of yesterday do not have to determine the rest of your life.
At sixty-three years old, Jerrie made a decision that would change everything.
She chose to shed more than weight.
She chose to shed fear.
She chose to shed shame.
She chose to shed the burdens she had carried for decades.
Through faith in God, perseverance, and a commitment to reclaiming her life, she embarked on a journey that transformed not only her body, but also her heart, her health, and her future.
Filled with raw honesty, powerful life lessons, and a message of hope for anyone struggling with the effects of abuse, trauma, emotional pain, or self-doubt, 63 and Shedding serves as a reminder that healing is possible, no matter how long the journey has been.
Whether you are a survivor yourself, love someone who is struggling, or simply need encouragement to keep moving forward, this unforgettable memoir will inspire you to believe that your past does not have the final word.
Because no matter how heavy the burden... there is always hope for a new beginning.
