"I chose hope."

Edna Parzybok was born in the US to parents who emigrated to Seattle from the Philippines. The mother of six school-aged children, Edna began experiencing postpartum depression and feelings of isolation after the birth of her first child that increased with each birth. "I sort of normalized that, because everyone knows what postpartum depression is like,” Edna told us. She says a "perfect storm" came after the birth of her fifth child when a series of life events led to enormous stress. One morning, she couldn't get up. "My husband remembers visibly me not being able to move or get out of bed," she said. She made the decision to check into a psychiatric hospital.

In the middle of her lowest point, Edna found healing and is bravely carrying that message forward to encourage all of us. Edna's story is about choosing life and meeting God in our lowest moments. Her story is one of choosing freedom over shame. Join us in conversation as Edna talks candidly about meeting God while experiencing the heavy weight of anxiety and depression — and finding hope in Christian community.

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To learn more about Ebenezer Podcast hosts and guests, visit ebenezerpodcast.org

Produced & Edited by Nate Furtado

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Music by Emerald Hymns