The Story We Share: How one sexual assault rippled through a family and their fight for healing

When Jessi Bixler was sexually assaulted by a trusted family member, life split into a before and after. But what followed was not just her story, it became everyone’s. The ripple effects tore through her marriage, her faith, her community, and the people she loved most.The Story We Share is a deeply personal, multi-perspective memoir chronicling the aftermath of a single act of violence. With unflinching vulnerability, Jessi brings readers into the messy, complex, and often isolating path toward healing, not just for herself, but for her family. Some pursued restoration. Others chose silence. But all were changed.Told in part through the voices of her husband, parents, close friends, and others impacted by the assault, this book reveals the far-reaching consequences of trauma and the hard, sacred work of reclaiming wholeness. Along the way, Jessi sheds light on the justice system’s failures, the weight of disbelief, and the often invisible wounds left on secondary survivors.For anyone who has lived through deep pain, walked with someone through heartbreak, or wrestled with what healing really looks like, this story is an offering of honesty, hope, and resilience. Through grief, grace, and courage, The Story We Share reminds us that we are never as alone as we feel… and that doing the next right thing is sometimes the bravest choice of all. Read more