THE NURSE; A LITTLE GIRL’S HERO

BY: PAMELA JOY SMITH

 She was not even twelve years old but she was repeatedly being raped by her stepfather.  Her younger brother who discovered this did all he could to protect his older sister.  However, the stepfather beat both children, threatening worse acts if either reported the sexual abuse to the authorities.  My heart was heavy and sick as I continued to read that the mother knew about the sexual and physical abuse that her children were experiencing at the hands of her husband yet she did nothing to stop it.  Then came the day when the young girl discovered that she was pregnant.  Her mother and stepfather decided that she would have to get an abortion. The young girl’s mother drove her to the abortion clinic.

     After the abortion, the stepfather continued to violate the young girl and he regularly beat both the victim and her brother.  He also added mental abuse by chastising and ridiculing the young girl by calling her several unkind names.  He demanded that she start taking birth control pills as he accused her of having sex with all of the boys at school.  The poor child kept protesting that she did not have any relationships with anyone and she begged the stepfather to stop raping her. 

     Then it happened again, the young girl discovered that she was pregnant.  Once again her mother and stepfather decided she would have to have another abortion.  Her mother drove her to the same abortion clinic where her mother provided a false name for her daughter.

     That day as the nurse was preparing this young girl for the abortion, she realized that this child had had another abortion within the past year.  The nurse started to counsel the young girl and advised her that if she was going to be sexually active, that it was imperative that the young girl get on birth control pills.  It was too much for this precious child, she burst into tears and confided in the nurse about her dark secret and her fears.  That day, that nurse became her hero for life.  The nurse picked up the phone and called the authorities to report the sexual and physical abuse that this precious child and her brother had experienced at the hands of their stepfather and their own mother.

     This case was assigned to me and we did in fact achieve justice for the young girl and her brother.  This is yet another case of child abuse that pulls at the heartstrings. I never feel as if I can do enough for these children. I so wish that I had the power to erase their pain, experience and hurt.  Even though this case was one that I handled about 20 years ago, I still remember the children and I get so upset remembering what they had to experience at the hands of an abusive stepfather.  I will also never understand why a mother can stand by to allow this to happen to her children.  Children are the greatest gifts in life and they do not deserve to be mistreated or denied the protection parents should give them.

     If a child trusts you and tells you that they are being abused, please become their hero!  Too many children continue to suffer at the hands of their abusers because too many adults who are told of the abuse do not want to get involved.  Please realize that most of the states allow anonymous reporting.  All it takes is one phone call to help a child and become a hero for life.  We are their only hope as they are often threatened with more violence to themselves, their loved ones and even their pets if they report the abuse.  If they place their trust in adults whom they hope will help them, do not ignore their tiny voices for help!  Please do not ignore their cries for help. Step up to the plate and become their hero!

    Please join us at Whatafan.com in our crusade to blackout child abuse.  Together we can make a difference in a child’s life!