Child Abuse Story of Healing and Recovery From Nettie

by Nettie Ballinger
(Fort Myers, Florida, USA)

I was abused as a child: sexually, mentally, and physically. At age 5, my stepfather started to molest me. It continued to age 8. Then he started to rape me and beat me. That continued to age 10. Sometimes he had his brother and his friend join in. I was going to therapy for the abuse when I was 5 - 10 and the driver who took me there molested me. At the age of 13, my mother's boyfriend started to rape me. People told me it was my fault, and I started to believe it. I stopped fighting him and let him do what he wanted. By the time I turned 16, I had tried to kill myself 3 times.

Now I am a mother of 3 and a wife. I am a Sunday school teacher and a woman minister. I help other women that have been through it. I am 27 years old. I did not get over it till I was 26, so it stayed with me. I will never forget, but I can say that I am a survivor. It may hurt and it always will if I think of it. But I am still alive today, and I love my family. I choose not to let my past interfere. I know what was done to me, but I know I deserve to be happy. It does not hurt the one who did it to me if I stay unhappy, it only hurts my family. I say to you now as a woman: It does get better, but only if you want it to get better. I say to you as minister: God can take it away. You are not alone. Look to your family. Know that not everyone is out to hurt you. Know that people care and love you.

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