Gritty Mamas with Julie Jeppson

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Dr. Julie Valentine is a forensic nurse and mother to 8 children. I was seriously not worthy to be in her presence! She mothered 8 children, and got a PHD with a 2 year old in tow, and thanks to her efforts, the largest state database on sexual assault cases exists in the United States. But it's always about her patients. I was in awe of her capacity to love them, and help them find healing, and she gives a word of warning to those who may be suffering from domestic violence, and don't know it.

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I am not sure if I know of someone else who has lost as many loved ones as Kim, in such a short amount of time. After losing her brother in law tragically in a race, she lost two brothers to addiction as well as her Dad shortly after. She has managed to find the joy through it all. While immersing herself in service, she has found joy in the process and helps others to see that joy IS possible. Even in the midst of heartache and devastation.

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Des has suffered from seizures for many years and has had 3 brain surgeries to try to curb them. During her last surgery, she suffered a stroke but was not informed by her surgeons until after she fell out of bed in the recovery room without any knowledge that her legs didn't work. She lost function in one of her arms and for the last 8 years has managed to dominate life one-handed, and with a whole lotta humor along the way.

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Jenedy Paige is an accomplished oil painter, and competitive Ninja Warrior. After reviving her son from drowning in a pool, he suffered sympathetic storming and passed away. Jenedy then trained to be on the hit TV show "American Ninja Warrior" where she has competed on 4 seasons now. She now coaches ninja classes, painting classes, and journals everyday, where she is able to see the tender mercies of God all throughout her life. She is an inspiration.

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Brianna was a dancer and collided with another dancer and her ankle was injured. What should have healed over a few days, turned into a massive infection with swelling, open wounds, and her nervous system attacking itself. Her leg was amputated and it was the greatest day she had had in years! Listen to her story and how amputating her leg was the start of a new life!

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I think this has been my most important conversation yet, and my hope is that you will first and foremost; CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR/SENATOR and urge this bill to be passed (HB 272-OM'S LAW) and secondly, share this with your friends and family and ask them to do the same. So many women and children are being abused and don't say anything because it is almost always made worse for them. "Getting out" or "Walking away" isn't that easy. No one should have to live a nightmare like Leah did for YEARS. She is my friend. I have other friends facing the same consequences she did, as a result of legal abuse and uneducated "experts" who have no expertise in domestic violence or child abuse. Please message the senator in your county and urge HB272, "Om's Law," to PASS. We have one week. This goes to the senate last week of February.

YOUR LEGISLATOR
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12u3w5Fxb9_upRC2kWWlkcNjK2MnzYYfDsfvJ4CZp6Qc/edit?usp=sharing

TO CONTACT YOUR SENATOR: https://senate.utah.gov/contact

Power and Control Wheel

https://www.thehotline.org/identify-abuse/power-and-control/ Utah

Domestic Violence Coalition

https://udvc.org/

The Safe Child Project

https://thepolicyproject.org

National Safe Parents Org

https://www.nationalsafeparents.org/kaydens-law.html

House Bill 272 Bill language: https://le.utah.gov/~2024/bills/static/HB0272.html

Watch proceedings: https://le.utah.gov/FloorCalendars/

House Floor reading and vote 22:18 Cutler’s presentation https://le.utah.gov/av/floorArchive.jsp?markerID=126353

Om's Law: Keeping Children Safe From Family Violence

Utah House Bill 272

House Judiciary Committee Testimony

February 8, 2024 

My name is Leah Moses, I’m Om’s mom.

9 months ago, my 16-year-old son Om was murdered by his father on Mother’s Day weekend during court-ordered parent time. Om was brutally shot twice in the back and once in his face by a 45 caliber handgun bought from a pawn shop on the same State Street in Salt Lake City as the courthouse where I fought in family court for 14 years trying to keep my children safe. I supplied the courts with extensive evidence of Om's father's abuse and the risk to my children, but it fell on deaf ears.

This morning it is my impossible task to represent thousands of protective parents and children who share their own, but similar experiences living in violence and who are not safe to speak out because they will be abused, tonight, tomorrow, and this weekend.

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I was privileged to talk to my favorite 14 year old on the planet, ADANNA! Man, I love her. She gets emotional and you can just hear how bad she wants to love her sport again, and so many are rooting for her. She tells us about her mental blocks, anxieties and struggles to manage loving her sport and fearing it at the same time.

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Sally Jean Mart struggled with infertility for years and finally resorted to adoption. But not just a regular adoption, she took babies and children with disabilities. 17 of them! From blindness to Cerebral Palsy, limb deformities, and Autism.....Down Syndrome and ADHD, and Spina Bifida. And that doesn't even scrape the surface of the emotional and psychological attachment issues that often come with adoption and previous abuse. Katie Mart, who was adopted at birth and is wheelchair bound, talks lovingly of her mother, who dedicated her life to kids who needed her 24 hour attention physically and mentally. You're about to meet ONE GRITTY MAMA!

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I cannot begin to describe the way I felt while listening to Rachel Hansen talk about her experience at the Boston Marathon in 2013. It went from one of the most "beautiful" races of her life into the most tragic, trauma-induced nightmares in a matter of minutes. She found herself stuck in a fight or flight response for years and did everything she could think of to pull herself out of it and to heal with the right counselors, attitude, medicine and of course, Jesus. He was there all along the way. And so was her late Grandmother whispering promptings in her ear as she crossed the finish line. Do not miss this one.

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I admire Angela so much. This cannot be an easy topic to talk about and she did it with so much grace and self-love and compassion.  She lost her beautiful 2 year old to a tragic accident and in this episode you'll find out why one word in a blessing she received changed her life forever.  It's one I want to incorporate into my own life forever.  She left an imprint on me and I know she will on you too.  She has courage, and a tremendous amount of bravery to talk about something so traumatic.  I am so proud to be her friend.

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