Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 2718

Tonight's special guest is Shannon McGraw Carr from Kingwood, Texas. Her grandfather raped several generations of the family. She was so young when the abuse happened that her early memories are in bits and pieces. But she does recall that, "I was raped in high school and raped again in college, and I do believe that in some way that is related to the fact I was abused by my grandfather. As I stated, my boundaries were all messed up." Shannon explains, "I began the first part of my healing journey when I came out with the rape in college (I was 19 years old) I began therapy and even spoke about date rape for the college." Shannon goes on, "My abuser only liked young children. And my mom did keep us to where we only saw him once or twice a year. When I was raped in college I told my parents and that's when my mom finally came out with what happened with her dad. That's when she told her brothers (she was the only daughter in the family) and from that point we didn't see that side of the family for 25 years." She lived as a ‘victim' for many years, until she was 27. "Then I found the way to recognizing that I could survive this," she says. "Through therapy, EMDR, etc. and speaking to audiences, writing books. I went from surviving to thriving. I began Hopeful Hearts Ministry 9 years ago and we help survivors of abuse find their voice." Still not satisfied, she went back to school. "I have been a Mental Health Peer Specialist for about 4 years now and I've been running the nonprofit for almost 10 years. In helping others, writing books, and speaking about the abuse and the effects have led me to a great amount of peace, forgiveness, and even understanding."