Bare Feet Paperback - 2023

BARE FEET SYNOPSIS

This real life dramatic true crime is based on the abduction of Debbie Ali. A shy, humble and hard working wife and mother of two, Debbie plans to celebrate her birthday with a family lunch. Little does she know of the horrifying events that would follow her 10am phone call, as she is abducted from inside of her home and held hostage for two weeks. During that time she suffers her worse fears; severe torture, brutal beatings, starvation and the most unthinkable sexual assaults.

While Debbie's husband negotiates her ransom, her mental and physical torture takes her to a place of desperation where she learns almost supernatural skills to enable her to stay alive. Debbie battles the seeming certainty of death never knowing at what point and how she would die. While stewing in her own sweat and anxiety, she begins to discover an inner strength she never knew she possessed. Her anguish however, becomes unbearable at the thought of never seeing or touching her young children again or never being able to watch them grow into life.

Debbie's mother prays ceaselessly every evening after reading her Bible while her daughter questions her own faith in God for the first time. Why is God allowing such suffering in her life? What has she done to deserve to be treated like trash? With no sensible forthcoming answers to her burning questions, Debbie gives in to exhaustion and death while a sliver of faith lingers. Weak, starved for food and sleep, and delirious Debbie suffers alone in her horrific space of captivity; chained to a bed like an animal, she gives over her seemingly impossible situation to God. Her trust and prayers initiates a shocking change in one of her captors who after many conversations, eventually repents, becomes her protector and a changed man. The stone cold self professed murderer swears to guard her with his life and see to it that she returns to her children.

Mere days away from imminent death, Debbie falls into a sudden deep sleep, or so she believes, until she sees her own body and the room in which she lies. Her journey continues into Heaven with Jesus Christ, during which she finds answers to many of her questions and the awe of the experience remains with her to date. Debbie has deep spiritual encounters with angels and saints and is given the choice to stay in Heaven or return to her children. She makes her choice and is allowed to return to her body, but blessed in mind and spirit knowing that all will be well. Debbie's vivid recollection of her near death experience has been shared thousands of times over.

Upon her release a few days after this divine experience, Debbie uncharacteristically begins spreading her story and the events of Heaven, thus keeping her promise of sharing hope, comfort and counseling to many women and families. Her struggles and story continues...