by Kerrie Atherton | Nov 3, 2025 | Counselling, Depression, Domestic Abuse, lived experience, Podcasts, sexual abuse, Stories of Hope
The story of Jennifer Heng Safe Place Singapore abortion recovery domestic violence faith hope is a moving reminder that no matter how deep the shame or how dark the past, redemption and healing are possible. Jennifer’s journey from secrecy and trauma to purpose and compassion reveals the extraordinary power of second chances.
Early Life and Struggles
Growing up in Singapore, Jennifer faced a childhood marked by family turmoil and heartbreak. As a teenager, she longed for love and belonging but instead found herself in an abusive relationship and pregnant at just 17. Terrified and alone, she underwent a late-term abortion, followed by a second one years later under pressure from a violent partner. Her world spiralled into guilt, fear, and self-loathing. For years, she believed she was beyond forgiveness and unworthy of love.
Breaking the Silence
In a culture where shame runs deep and emotions are rarely spoken, Jennifer kept her pain hidden. Yet the weight of those secrets only grew heavier. When she finally began to speak about her experiences, the healing began. Her courage to confront the past became the first step toward a new life. She discovered that shame loses its power when it is brought into the light, and that grace and hope can grow in even the hardest places.
Faith and Transformation
Everything changed when Jennifer left Singapore to study in Melbourne. In a quiet season of reflection, she experienced what she describes as a radical encounter with God’s love—a moment that set her free from guilt and gave her the courage to start again. This awakening became the turning point that redefined her life, leading her to faith, forgiveness, and ultimately, hope.
Safe Place and a New Purpose
Today, Jennifer Heng is the Director of Safe Place Singapore, an organisation dedicated to supporting pregnant women in crisis. Through housing, counselling, and community care, Safe Place empowers women to make life-giving choices and find dignity and strength during vulnerable times. Jennifer has helped hundreds of women rebuild their lives, proving that healing can ripple across generations.
Why Her Story Matters
The story of Jennifer Heng Safe Place Singapore abortion recovery domestic violence faith hope is not only about personal transformation—it’s about the courage to speak truth in a culture of silence and to turn pain into purpose. Jennifer’s life reminds us that where there is life, there is hope, and that our darkest chapters can become the source of someone else’s healing.
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by Kerrie Atherton | May 5, 2025 | lived experience, Mental Health, Podcasts
In this deeply personal and empowering episode of Stories of HOPE, Kerrie Atherton sits down with Jen Hamer—a writer, speaker, and academic whose journey through the depths of an eating disorder has not only shaped her life but now serves as a guiding light for others navigating similar paths.
Jen’s struggle began early. By the age of 12, she had already fallen into the grips of a life-threatening eating disorder—an illness that stole her energy, identity, and nearly her life. For years, Jen battled in silence, buried beneath the weight of impossible expectations, perfectionism, and the belief that her worth was tied to how little space she could take up in the world. Her story is one of pain, but also of awakening.
Now, Jen is completing a PhD focused on eating disorders in athletes—a group often overlooked, yet uniquely vulnerable to body image pressures and performance-based identity. Her research is personal, rigorous, and driven by a desire to create tangible change in how we understand and treat disordered eating in high-pressure environments.
In this episode, Jen speaks about the moment she chose recovery—a crossroads where she had to choose between surviving and truly living. She discusses the core beliefs that fueled her illness, the myths that kept her trapped, and the moment she realized her body was not the enemy but a partner in healing.
With vulnerability and strength, Jen also opens up about her upcoming book, Goodbye Anna—a powerful memoir in which she personifies her eating disorder as “Anna,” and writes a final farewell to the part of her life that tried to consume her. The book is not just a goodbye to pain—it’s a hello to purpose, compassion, and renewed self-trust.
Through her words, Jen sends a message to anyone who is struggling: that healing is messy, nonlinear, and never instant—but it is possible. That your value does not come from your appearance or achievements, but from your humanity. And that your body, no matter how long it has been at war with your mind, can become your home again.
Whether you’re living with an eating disorder, supporting someone who is, or simply trying to rebuild your relationship with your body, Jen’s story offers insight, empathy, and hope. It’s a reminder that recovery isn’t about returning to who you were—it’s about becoming who you were meant to be.
by Kerrie Atherton | Dec 2, 2024 | lived experience, Mental Health, Podcasts
On November 13, 2015, the Bataclan theatre in Paris became the site of one of Europe’s deadliest terrorist attacks. Among the survivors was Ferry Zandvliet, whose life was forever changed in those terrifying moments. What followed was not just the struggle of survival, but years of battling PTSD and searching for healing and meaning.
In this gripping episode of Stories of Hope – Inspiring Humans with Kerrie Atherton, Ferry recounts the night of the attack with raw honesty. He describes the chaos, fear, and the long-lasting scars it left on his mental health. But his story does not end with trauma. Through therapy, community, and self-discovery, Ferry has found a way to rebuild his life and transform his pain into purpose.
Today, Ferry is an advocate for resilience and human connection. By sharing his journey publicly, he offers hope to others facing the weight of PTSD, reminding them that recovery is possible even after the darkest of nights. His perspective highlights that trauma can shape us, but it doesn’t have to define us.
Ferry’s story demonstrates the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit. From the depths of fear and loss, he has risen with a renewed commitment to life, compassion, and courage. This episode invites listeners to consider how adversity can lead to unexpected strength and how hope can emerge even from tragedy.
by Kerrie Atherton | Nov 18, 2024 | lived experience, Podcasts, Stories of Hope
Jorge Valdes once lived a life of power, wealth, and danger as a central figure in the infamous “Cocaine Cowboys” drug trade of Miami. From the outside, his life appeared glamorous. But beneath the surface, it was built on violence, addiction, and emptiness. His eventual downfall could have been the end of his story—but instead, it became the turning point that transformed him into a beacon of hope.
In this riveting episode of Stories of Hope – Inspiring Humans with Kerrie Atherton, Jorge shares his extraordinary journey from cartel member to inspirational leader. After serving time in prison, he made a radical decision: to change his life, pursue education, and dedicate himself to faith, family, and service. His story reveals the cost of choices, but also the freedom found in redemption.
Today, Jorge Valdes is a speaker, author, and advocate who uses his past as a platform to inspire change. By telling his truth, he breaks the myths of glamorized crime and instead points to the peace that comes with integrity, forgiveness, and hope. His transformation shows that no past is beyond redemption and no person is too far gone to choose a new path.
This episode is more than a story of crime and punishment—it’s a powerful testimony to resilience, grace, and the possibility of transformation. Jorge’s life is proof that the darkest past can give rise to the brightest hope.
by Kerrie Atherton | Nov 11, 2024 | lived experience, Mental Health, Podcasts
Madeleine Black’s story is one of profound courage. As a teenager, she endured trauma that left deep scars on her life. For years, silence and shame weighed heavily on her. But through the journey of healing, forgiveness, and hope, she discovered not only her own strength but a powerful voice that has inspired countless others.
In this moving episode of Stories of Hope – Inspiring Humans with Kerrie Atherton, Madeleine shares her experience with raw honesty and compassion. She opens up about the lasting impact of her trauma and how the decision to forgive became a turning point. Forgiveness, she explains, was not about excusing the harm but about reclaiming her life and refusing to let pain define her future.
Madeleine’s resilience turned her from victim to advocate. By choosing to speak openly, she has given others permission to find their own voice, no matter how heavy the burden they carry. Her journey demonstrates that while trauma can break us down, it can also become the soil from which empathy, strength, and new beginnings grow.
This episode is more than a story of survival—it is a message of hope. Madeleine shows us that forgiveness is a radical act of self-love and that even in the darkest chapters, healing and light are possible. Her voice echoes the truth that we are never defined solely by what happened to us, but by the courage with which we rise.
by joshua@joshuatberglan.com | Oct 28, 2024 | lived experience, Podcasts, Stories of Hope
In 2015, Nepal was struck by one of the most devastating earthquakes in its history, leaving destruction, loss, and trauma in its wake. Among the survivors was Michelle McFadyen, whose life was forever changed by that harrowing experience. What began as an adventure became a fight for survival and a story of resilience that continues to inspire today.
In this heartfelt episode of Stories of Hope – Inspiring Humans with Kerrie Atherton, Michelle shares her vivid account of the disaster and its aftermath. She describes the chaos and fear of those moments, the loss she witnessed, and the courage it took to push forward in such overwhelming circumstances. Through her words, listeners gain an intimate view of how trauma can alter one’s perspective on life.
But Michelle’s story is not only about survival—it is about transformation. Emerging from tragedy, she found a deeper appreciation for connection, gratitude, and the strength of the human spirit. Her resilience demonstrates how even the darkest moments can spark growth, empathy, and renewed purpose.
This episode is a powerful reminder that while natural disasters can devastate communities and lives, they also reveal extraordinary human strength. Michelle’s journey invites us to reflect on our own ability to endure hardship and to discover the light that can be found even in the rubble.
