I Love You Mom; Please Don't Break My Heart

This film presents the heartbreaking story of John Borgstedt, who as a boy suffered abuse at the hands of both his mother and some of the caretakers in the institutions where he was sent for protection. Now 33, Borgstedt chronicles the years of abuse, how they affected his life, and what he had to overcome. Old photographs and graphic reenactments reveal physical torture, confinement, and the use of drugs to incapacitate him. Borgstedt talks about his mission to save one child at a time from similar treatment, which includes his speaking to kids in institutions and prisons about his experiences. A candid reunion with his caseworker demonstrates the long-term effects of his past, including the anger he displayed to all adults, the terrible choices he made (he did time in prison), and how he eventually forgave his mother in order to move on with his life.