I think I have shed more tears these last few days than I can remember... Not sad tears, but the tears that come automatically when you see incredible acts of kindness.
To add some perspective that I felt it really important to share:
Never have the words "every cloud has a silver lining" been truer for us. We are incredible thankful for the many amazing friends we have. Jason Beghe is an inspiration as are so many others.
To be very clear, the last 3 years of fighting this legal battle have been tough. I sought therapy after being grilled by scientology lawyers on the subject of forced abortions, simply because I could not stop crying. And there were many other tough times as well.
Those deposition transcripts will be made available. There is much we have not said, because for the last two years, we were told not to talk to anyone about our cases. Media included. Not because of what we might say, but because every media article and internet posting provided a justification for scn lawyers to continue deposition well beyond what was needed (this is another way in which they managed to inflate the final legal costs bill - in federal court, we were only required to do 1 day of deposition and they dragged it out to 5 days for each of us).
Yes, in the legal system, we lost. But when it comes to exposing abuse and forcing scientology to change some of its evil ways, we won.
And in the end, losing was a blessing in disguise. Because what would the alternative have been? If we won our appeal, we had been told that it would have rapidly headed to settlement. And what would that mean? That we would have to enter into any form of agreement with COS and, worse, accept their blood money?
No.
I feel Marc summed it up perfectly.
What? We would end up raising our children on money from COS that was obtained from the likes of many people we have since met and heard their heart wrenching stories? Like Luis and Rocio Garcia? Karen De la Carriere? Mary Jo Leavitt? And the very long list of other people whose hard earned money was cruelly taken under false pretenses?
No, we could never live with that, and we do NOT want our children to grow up with anything other than respectfully earned and obtained money.
Thank you again for the incredible outpouring of support we have received here.
I will remain forever changed by this - I may have lost some faith in the legal system, but ultimately I have gained a whole new view of the power of love and humanity.
And for the many of you who have given us heartwarming congrats regarding our expected #3, thank you SO much. We are thankful to know we have a healthy babe on the way, and no doubt this one will bring us as much joy as the two children we are already blessed with.
With love,
Claire