About Blood Orphan

At six years old, Ashley learned that monsters were real. They didn’t live under the bed. They sat at the dinner table, hid behind closed doors, and disguised themselves as family.

In Blood Orphan, Dr. Ashley S. Glosson shares the harrowing true story of growing up trapped inside a home ruled by fear, violence, secrecy, and psychological terror. Behind the image of a respected, educated family, Ashley and her siblings endured years of abuse that stole their innocence far too soon. While other children worried about homework and playgrounds, Ashley became a protector, shielding her younger siblings from a dangerous man and a mother unwilling to save them.

But Blood Orphan is more than a story of survival.

It is a deeply emotional memoir about what happens after the trauma. About the lasting scars childhood violence leaves on the mind and body. About the impossible burden carried by children forced to become adults too soon. And ultimately, about the resilience required to break free from generational cycles of abuse and rebuild a life defined not by fear, but by strength.

With unflinching honesty and remarkable vulnerability, Ashley takes readers through the moments that nearly destroyed her, the faith that sustained her, and the determination that helped her rise beyond the horrors of her past to become an accomplished scientist, advocate, and survivor.

Dr. Ashley S. Glosson is an infectious diseases scientist, global health expert, and memoirist whose work explores resilience, trauma, faith, and the lasting impact of adversity. An alumna of Northeastern University, New York Medical College, and A.T. Still University, she is passionate about advocacy surrounding women’s health and community health initiatives.

Through both science and storytelling, Dr. Glosson examines the intersection of survival, healing, and human strength. She enjoys traveling, hiking, playing the violin, and writing poetry.

Dear Reader,

Writing Blood Orphan was one of the most difficult and meaningful journeys of my life. For many years, I carried these memories in silence, believing survival meant learning how to bury pain deeply enough that no one could see it. But over time, I realized silence protects the wrong people.

This book is not only my story. It is for every person who has ever felt trapped by fear, ashamed of what happened to them, or burdened by wounds they did not deserve to carry.

I want you to know this:

What happened to you is not your identity.

Our pasts may shape us, but they do not have to define us. Healing is possible. Peace is possible. Joy is possible. Even after unimaginable hardship, it is still possible to build a beautiful life.

If my story helps even one person feel less alone, then every difficult page was worth writing.

With love and hope,
Ashley S. Glosson

I wrote Blood Orphan because too many survivors suffer in silence. Abuse remains one of the most difficult subjects for society to confront, yet it affects countless lives. By sharing my story, I hope readers understand that what happened to them is not their fault, that healing is possible, and that resilience can emerge even from unimaginable circumstances.