e-mail
Thursday is going to be a nerve wracking and exciting day for me.
Last year I blogged about the CAP Fund Care-A-Van for Kids fundraiser for child abuse prevention. It is coming around again, and this time I will be an active part of it. I have done financial contributions for many years, but this year is much more personal.
One of the largest components of this fundraiser is the personal stories from abuse survivors. I am one of those survivors and I will be doing a live radio interview to talk about my own abuse, foster care and adoption, and my work with ATN.
While the focus is abuse prevention, the reality is that abuse happens and explaining the signs to look for, as well as what abuse does to a child is a key component of this fundraiser.
I have no problem talking about foster care, adoption, or my work with ATN, but telling my personal story, that’s another thing. I have talked about it in this blog, but it’s more impersonal. This is a live radio interview in the area I live in.
This is the other part of my going public; potential retribution. I live in a small town and I have a very distinctive voice. The interview will air during the working hours so the majority of my family will be at work and it’s unlikely that they will hear it. There are some family members who may hear, and then there’s the small town aspect. When you were born and raised in a town of less than 2,000 people, people know who you are, and my distinctive voice will be a give away to those who might hear it and know me.
Five years ago I was in the middle of an ugly abuse investigation myself. The investigation was initiated based on claims made by my mother. This makes me wonder what new things might be cooked up if she gets wind of this interview since I will be frankly talking about how she abused me, how I was sexually abused and other aspects of my life. This will not make her happy and there is a chance of some sort of revenge coming at me.
I am no different than other abuse survivors. Many do not come forward because of the fear of revenge by the abuser. I am now 40 years old, and that fear can still rule me at some times, but I know that nothing will be gained by my silence. If one family is able to find resources for their child because of what I say, it will have been worth it. If another survivor finally gains the strength to enter therapy or come forward, it will have been worth it.
For more information on the CAP Fund, or to make a donation visit their website.
Oh Kelly. I can hear the fear in your post. I will say a prayer as that’s all I guess I can really do. Is there some way for them to mottle or diguise your voice on air? I think you are very brave as I, too, live in a small town and know how gossip and slander spreads like wildfire. Sometimes, you just gotta rise above and know that God will handle it all and all you can do is share the truth to help others. Good Luck!
Kim
Blessings, Kelly. I know that God will use your honesty to reach someone’s heart.