Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 1058

Tonight's special guest is Christy Lynn Abram from Washington, a childhood abuse survivor and author of "Little Miss Somebody," a novel based on her experiences. For many years she endured abuse and abandonment at the hands of her mother, a violent alcoholic. Year after year her abuse increased. She writes, "By the age of 12, I was left alone in an abandoned apartment to fend for  myself for weeks." Her mother's actions made her feel worthless, hopeless and isolated in solitude. Christy says, "I became consumed with anger and pain." Although her mother treated her poorly, she followed her mom wherever she went .. to St. Louis, Washington, Florida, Ohio and California. "I was passed around from one relative to another, molested and left to fend for myself." she explains. Her mother "constantly berated me and told me I would never be anybody. At the age of 16, I was emancipated and living alone pregnant with my first child. By the age of 21, I had 3 children and was involved in a abuse marriage." She goes on, "I felt worthless. My sorrow was so deep, I felt like I could never find my way out. I was in and out of mental health treatment centers, each time with a new diagnosis and medication." She struggled with depression for 15 years, survived 3 suicide attempts and eventually continued the cycle of abuse I inherited from her mother. Her road to recovery has taken time. "As a spiritual person, I believe God puts us in the right place so we can discover our purpose through life's lessons," she says. "With all of my being, I believe my experiences have made me a better person." Christy now works as a mental health counselor and mentor to young women who have experiences similar to her own.