Katelynn

Sweet. Silly. Smart. Brave. Caring. These words perfectly describe Katelynn, a lively and charismatic 8-year-old girl who loves to dance, practice gymnastics, read books and play board games.

On the outside, Katelynn seems no different than any other 8-year-old child. But on the inside, she’s hurting deeply. Until recently, Katelynn held on to a terrible secret – her father had sexually abused her for years.

Katelynn tried desperately to distract herself and others from all the bad thoughts and feelings inside of her, hoping they would disappear. But they never went away.

It took her some time to feel comfortable, but eventually she felt safe enough and brave enough to talk about what happened.

“I don’t even feel safe to pray at home because it (the abuse) happened in every single room in the whole house,” she says.

Katelynn is beginning the healing process and beginning to understand that the abuse she endured was not her fault. She continues to make small improvements each week, but healing will take time.

Katelynn’s abuse history will likely continue to impact her for the rest of her life, at all ages and stages of her life. It will always be a piece of her, but she is resilient.

Although this is a true story, the child pictured is a model from a stock photo.

Julian & Michael

Julian and his older brother Michael grew up with an inseparable bond.

From the beginning, they learned to accept each other and their differences: Julian is quiet, Michael is chatty; Julian is timid, Michael is outgoing; Julian is subservient, Michael is caring.

Yet what connects the brothers at their core goes far beyond their balance in personalities. At just 8- and 9-years-old, Julian and Michael had to raise each other in order to survive.

For years, the two boys lived with abusive parents who withheld food, whipped them with belts and choked them. Beyond physical neglect, the brothers often witnessed their parents selling and using drugs.

Julian and Michael worked together to find food until finally they were rescued from their frightful situation.

Now, the brothers are slowly learning to trust adults and feel safe in a loving environment with their new caregivers. They are beginning to engage in school more and find enjoyment with basketball and church activities.

After experiencing such a traumatic childhood, Julian and Michael have grown closer than ever. With each other to lean on for strength and support, together they are making strides to find healing.

Although this is a true story, the children pictured are models from a stock photo.

Sarah

A bright and compassionate 10-year-old, Sarah loves Barbies, board games and playing with her siblings.

But unlike other girls her age, Sarah lives with dark memories that no child should have to hold on to – she was sexually abused at the hands of her stepfather and a family friend for multiple years.

Once an avid reader, her attempts to open a book at home or at school now trigger bothersome memories of the abuse. The quiet solace she once found soothing has become unbearably suffocating.

Luckily, after suffering years of neglect, Sarah courageously broke the silence to share her story.

Sarah is slowly taking steps to recover her stolen voice and gain back a piece of herself that was lost. She is working on ways to reduce her nightmares and increase feelings of safety in her home.

Sarah has a long road ahead in her healing process, but she is a survivor.

Although this is a true story, the child pictured is a model from a stock photo.