How Could You Do That to a 10 Year Old Child?

October 31, 2013

Dear Salutation,

“How could you do that to a 10 year old child?”

That is the question Mattie finally asked her father 30 years later. Mattie is an incest survivor of not just one perpetrator but four family members who sexually molested her for several years beginning at age 7. She wondered if all families were like this. She suffered in silence growing up and tried to distance herself from those who hurt her.

Mattie moved away and built a new family with her husband and child. However the memories followed her and seeped out in the form of night terrors. She would regularly wake up screaming - frightening her young daughter.

Mattie came to a crossroads when she and her husband realized that if she didn’t seek help she was jeopardizing the family that they worked so hard to build.

With great trepidation and fear, Mattie sought help from the Family Services Crime Victims Assistance Program. She initially worked with a trauma trained therapist and eventually engaged in specialized progressive trauma therapy. After a period of time, Mattie joined an Incest Survivors Group. As Mattie progressed in her treatment, her night terrors and flashbacks slowly began to subside. Her confidence, hope and self-esteem started to grow.

Mattie was a survivor, no longer a victim, gaining strength to confront her childhood abusers.

“How could you do that to a ten year old child?”

Mattie never did get the answer that she was looking for but the anger, shame, guilt and fears were released after years of suffering in silence. And in many ways, she feels as if life is just beginning again at the age of 38.

Your support of Families Services provides critical help to the many individuals and families we serve – whether it be therapy and treatment for victims of crime, critical assistance and resources for victims of domestic violence, youth programs that target at-risk youth and much more. Your generosity is essential to our mission to help families and individuals help themselves through direct services, collaboration and advocacy.

Please help us in our efforts to empower all of the Mattie’s out there and send your

contribution today!

Sincerely,

Brian Doyle Maria DeWald

Chief Executive Officer Board of Directors Development Chairperson