Dr. Edith Eger, A Survivor's Story

Holocaust survivor speaks at CWU Holocaust survivor Dr. Edith Eger will present ?A Survivor?s Story? Wednesday, May 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the CWU Jerilyn S. McIntyre Music Building Concert Hall. This event is free and open to the public. In May of 1944, at the age of 16, Eger was a classically trained ballerina and aspiring gymnast. Her dreams were crushed however when she and her family were taken from their home in Kassa, Hungary and sent to Auschwitz, the notorious Nazi death camp. She and her sister Magda were immediately separated from their parents, who were executed upon arrival to the camp. Until her liberation on May 4, 1945, Eger survived through indescribable horrors, including suffering the loss of loved ones and severe malnutrition. She weighed only 60 pounds and had a broken back when an American soldier rescued her from a pile of corpses. During her recovery Eger battled depression and post-traumatic stress. Instead of allowing herself to be pitied, she channeled her understanding of pain into achieving a degree in Psychology from the University of Texas, El Paso. Today, Eger uses the trauma of her past experiences in her work to help others cope with their life struggles, including battered women and soldiers suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. Eger is a sought-after clinical psychologist and lecturer, a prolific author and member of several professional associations. She has a clinical practice in La Jolla, Calif. and holds a faculty appointment at the University of California, San Diego. For more information about Eger visit www.dreee.com. Questions about the event please call the CWU Center for Diversity and Social Justice at 509-963-2198.