How Can I Make It Through

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Leonna Anne Abraham Brandao, was born January 20,1947,on Cape Cod,in Massachusetts. Leonna,a Former Social Worker with the State of Massachusetts, and whose studies included Community and Public Services,used her services in the areas of Social Work, involving families, children and adolescents. She, further, spent years of devotion to the understanding of the rise and fall of problematic individuals, and approaches to the resolutions of conflict. As a single-parent of one child, she was able to assist her son with the completion of his four year college education, while working and attending college, herself. Following her own family tragedy, she was placed in a position,as many families,who suffered an overwhelming loss.She subsequently, decided to travel in order to broaden her views on cultures and behaviors.She attended a Mayan Indian School, "Centro Maya De Idiomas ",in the mountains of Quetzeltenango, Guatemala,Central America,and studied the language and culture of the Mayan Indians. Following her six month stay there,she traveled to El Salvador, Honduras,Nicaragua, Costa Rica,and Panama, meeting new friends and regaining personal recognition of herself. She ultimately, moved to Ghana,West Africa, where she founded the "New Vision Organization " which provided services to the medically ill individuals,in the regions of Ghana. Leonna,ultimately, returned to the States in 1996,where she continued to work in the Health Care Profession,and as an advocate for prisoners and for prison reform. In the year 2002, Leonna decided to put her writing skills to use in her Literary works on Prison Issues around the country. Organizations have been helpful in submitting names and addresses of prisoners who want their stories told. She firmly believes that Prisoners can be saved through extensive rehabilitation, as in the past, with many successful releases. It is said, that some of the best Counselors in the field, are those who have experienced the same set back, as those,whom they counsel, and they have been able to overcome their inner conflicts.