Welcome 

I echo ThinkinGirl - Wow what a story.  It sounds like a Lifetime Movie of the Week.  It sounds like you have a lifetime of experiences at the ripe old age of 20.  I, too, am curious about what happened with your family and where you are with all them now.  Follow your dreams, by all means.  We have a son who is majoring in cello performance in college and it is amazing to see how many awesome, talented young people there are in the world and while it is a highly competitive field to pursue, if you have the passion, as well, of course, as the talent, go for it young man!  

You are sooo young and I hope you have a good support group.  How are you paying the bills as you recuperate? That's always one of the biggest issues facing an artist!  Regarding your early life as a witness, there are so many people here who grew up in either a "perfect witness family" or were never accepted in witness world because they were from a "divided household" or were too poor to fit in with the "cool" group, or were simply never "active" enough.  But all of us misfits are making our way now in our new lives, and this forum is a wonderful place to heal and move on.

Valerie