Becky Sherrick Harks: The Mother Who Turned Her Pain Into a Lifeline for Thousand

Heroes of the Phoenix Rising by Vision One World

“It was the month of January. 2009. I was getting a sinking feeling, call it a mother’s instinct or whatever, but I knew something was not right.”

Becky Sherrick Harks, a nurse and expectant mother, was admitted to the hospital to deliver her baby. But instead of joy, the delivery room quickly became a space of confusion and fear. As soon as her daughter was born, she was rushed to the ICU.

“I didn’t know what was going on. Nobody was telling me anything.”

Perhaps this was the very feeling that had been weighing on Becky’s heart in the days leading up to the birth.

A Mother’s Nightmare Unfolds

“I was up all night,” Becky recalls. “I was nursing her. Suddenly, the nurses and doctors came running into my room and took my baby away for a CT scan. My baby kept screaming for me. Never have I felt more terrified, more helpless.”

The scan revealed a rare and terrifying condition—Becky’s newborn’s brain had grown outside her skull.

“She was so tiny. She had such little hands and feet…”

Just three weeks old, baby Amelia Grace was taken into the operating room for a 10-hour surgery to have her skull implanted.

“I kept waiting outside the OT. Nobody was telling me anything. I was devastated, alone, desolate.”

Holding on to Hope

As a nurse, Becky understood the gravity of the situation. “I had seen two other similar cases in my profession, and both the babies had died.” Still, the mother in her clung to hope—hope that overshadowed the grim knowledge of her profession.

Amelia survived the surgery.

“She had a huge scar all the way around her head, and the sight of that on her little head scared and shattered me.” But there was one thing Becky could finally do again—hold her daughter close.

Carrying Her Own Scars

Becky’s own childhood had been fraught with trauma. “My mother has bipolar disorder. Suicide attempts, blood checks, feeling alone throughout my childhood were just some of the things that I grew up with.”

As her daughter lay recovering, Becky began to unravel. The trauma, anxiety, and isolation overwhelmed her. She buckled under the weight of post-traumatic stress disorder.

But then came the miracle: “She recovered!! My baby came out of it all!!”

From Trauma to Purpose

Six years later, Becky’s voice still brims with joy. “I got her back in my arms again! I would never ever lose her!”

Yet, the loneliness she felt during those terrifying moments never left her. She knew no one should ever feel that alone.

That’s when Becky founded Band Back Together—an online platform where people facing emotional trauma could find support, solidarity, and healing.

Creating a Safe Space for Survivors

Band Back Together launched in 2010 as a group weblog and support forum where people could share their stories of survival—anonymously if they preferred—and connect with others facing similar struggles.

“It is a group weblog providing educational resources as well as a safe, moderated, supportive environment to share stories of survival,” Becky explains.

From survivors of abuse and rape to individuals dealing with mental illness, baby loss, or suicidal thoughts, Band Back Together became a virtual sanctuary.

“It’s something I wish I had growing up. It’s something I wish I had while watching my baby suffer,” Becky says.

United in Healing

People from across the globe began finding comfort and power in sharing their stories. Survivors found each other. Healing became communal.

“The Band was a part of my family when I got divorced. I also have a special needs child… Finding a tribe of other people who deal with the same issues really helped me through some dark days.” – Amy S.

Becky’s small initiative had become a lifeline.

“I'm sure this site saves at least one person every single day.” – Ericka R.

A Home for Stories That Matter

With over 600 resource pages, Band Back Together groups stories by category—abuse, grief, mental illness, baby loss, and more—making it easy to find a story that resonates.

“These are your words, your problems, and they matter to a lot of people.” – Becky

“Reading others’ stories made me feel less alone. Abuse is isolating… but The Band helped me take back my power.” – Anonymous Survivor

A Lifeline That Changed Lives

Becky’s vision came full circle when she received a heartfelt message from Nikki, a mother in New York:

“I had a hard time finding people online who had been through a similar diagnosis… Then I found Becky. She saved my sanity.”

Inspired by Becky’s courage, Nikki wrote her own story on the platform, offering others the same hope she once desperately needed.

The Face of Strength

“We are the face of depression. We are the face of baby loss. We are the face of abuse. We are the face of rape. We are the face of fighters.” Becky says. “We wear our scars proudly—like battle wounds.”

Today, Band Back Together is a powerful reminder: you are never truly alone.

“No matter what, I know my story is safe with them. If I am lost, they will help me find my way.” – Survivor

Thank You, Becky

In a world where social media often isolates, Becky used it to unite, uplift, and heal. Her pain birthed a platform that now serves as a home for thousands.

Becky Sherrick Harks, you are the hope that connects hundreds of thousands of silent victims across the world.