Today we’d like to introduce you to Veronica Banchs.
Hi Veronica, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Still til this day I struggle with accepting my past but in order for me to be a voice for the voiceless, I have to own my past. I’m a Survivor of child sexual abuse and child trafficking. When you grow up experiencing a childhood of trauma it changes you. You learn to survive and try and find joy within your tortured reality. So naturally I turned to art music and reading. Anything to help me escape to running away. You search for love and that love came with the birth of my son.
Watching him struggle hurt more than any physical pain I had ever endured. It was his journey and courage to overcome his developmental obstacles that inspired me.
He was 10 when we finally received the diagnosis of PDD-NOS (Autism Spectrum Disorder) when my son turned to me and told me I had to go back to school.
You never think that life would throw us another curve ball. I was in college when I found out I was sick. So, you go your whole life hurting to watching your child hurt to watching yourself die slowly. He was the only person I lived for and now I’m dying.
I lost hope and wanted it to be over when I found the Doctor that would save my life but not without me fighting for it. In March 2019 I bled out post-op.
Less than 1 in a billion survive a total bleed out yet here I am.
Struggling with PTSD I had to find myself again. What gave me strength and what brought me joy.
My love is helping people like myself, the outcasts, the broken bad apples that lost their way. I focused on my show and sharing people’s stories, music and what makes them happy. It’s been my therapy to love my guests unconditionally as they inspire me through my journey.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
If it could happen to a human, it physically happened to me. My whole life I believed I was cursed because why has my life been filled with so much trauma. Then it hit me after my life was saved, that I’m here for this very moment. To feel the good and bad of this world so I can give my heart to those like me. The broken and lost souls like me will always have a friend in me. That’ll fight with them and be a voice for the voiceless. I’m living proof that you can survive and find your place in this crazy world
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m known for my love of art from creating to hosting my show and featuring independent artist music. I provide a space for people to express themselves creatively to emotionally. I’m most proud of my work in the community with my nonprofit and my show. We live in an age where people strive to impress and be perfect. Hiding their feelings and masking their pain. Internally killing their spirit where I love all of me and all of you. I searched for unconditional love and acceptance my whole life and now I give that to everyone I meet. So, I’d say that sets me apart is no matter who you are you have a friend in me that you can be yourself with. Flaws and all we can be broken together or turn up together!
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was lost broken and isolated. A robotic child that found joy in art and music. Anything that helped me escape my reality. From doing drugs as a child to lashing out violently I saw no purpose for living. Once I felt safe, I was finally able to live, always turning to art and music as my therapy.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bluecrayonzinc.org
- Instagram: @bagelsandshade
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bagelsandshade/
- Other: https://abc-7.com/news/cover-story/2020/12/24/special-needs-nonprofit-president-experiences-christmas-miracle-after-near-death-experience/
