Child Abuse Story of Healing and Recovery From Patricia

by Patricia
(North Ridgeville, Ohio, USA)

I shared my story on the child abuse stories page, and now I want to share my story of healing and recovery. I am happily married now. I was abused as a child in the 1960's. My father abused my mother, my sisters, and me. He nearly killed my mother and me. My mother was 9 months pregnant with my youngest sister. My father stabbed her in the chest, broke 2 of her ribs. No charges were ever brought against him. Twice, he shoved my third sister down a flight of stairs, causing her to break her shoulder bones. Before the falls, she was a very normal toddler. After the falls, she ended up mentally retarded. She is now disabled with mental retardation, agoraphobia and panic disorders. However, she is loved and cared for by myself and my youngest sister. She is living a very happy life now.

My father left us in the summer of 1968. My mother and sisters moved to Pennsylvania. My mother raised us to be productive and happy women. She died in 1989 from cancer. Her remaining years were filled with peace and the love of her children.

After my mother's death, I became a nursing assistant. I loved caring for people. My youngest sister is now working full-time as a nursing assistant. She is caring for my handicapped sister. Sadly though, my second sister is married to a man who controls everything she does. We do not have contact with her because of him.

I, myself, found the love of my life in my forties. I was given a wonderful gift. I am happily married to a very gentle man. Happy endings can happen with love and support from caring people. With such a loving mother and loving grandparents, life becomes happy again. The scars heal. There is hope. We need only to forget the past, forgive the abuser. Go forward. There is hope.

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