Julie Klomp

You Don't Know Your Mother Julie Klomp

This is the true story of the power of mental illness and alcoholism to threaten the stability of the Collings family. Bruce and Lillian Collings came together as teenagers determined to create the kind of loving family that neither one had experienced as a child. But emotional struggles claim Lillian's peace of mind, and a brutal house fire with questionable origins destroys everything. Unable to cope, Bruce journeys down a new path in his own desperate search for peace. Soon after, the Collings' second daughter, Vanessa, suffers a psychotic breakdown and is later diagnosed with the harrowing disease of schizophrenia. Despite the ugliness of human failings, the Collings' story demonstrates the beautiful strength of a family who finds hope through their unconditional love for each other. Most of all, it is a story of hope for the millions of people whose lives have been impacted by mental illness. Original letters, journal writings, and pictures help to portray the power of vulnerable genetics and stress to threaten but not destroy this family.