Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 245

Tonight's SPECIAL GUEST is Stacey Lannert, survivor, activist, author of "Redemption: A Story of Sisiterhood, Survival and Finding Freedom Behind Bars" and founder of www.HealingSisters.org. After 10 years of sexual abuse, including rape and sodomy, Stacey Lannert shot and killed her father on July 5, 1990, and was put in jail. In December 1992, she was convicted of first degree murder and armed criminal action. She was sentenced to life in prison without parole in Missouri. In January 2009, Missouri Governor Matt Blunt commuted her sentence. He told her he expected her to make a difference with her life. After 18 years in prison, Stacey's now living in St. Louis. She's telling her story so other women can learn from her mistakes. "I created Healing Sisters to allow other sexual abuse victors (we are victors, after all) the opportunity to experience the bond we share and the restoring powers gained from other people who have also suffered," says Stacey. "I believe that every child, woman and man who suffers from sexual abuse becomes a sister because we share a common bond, one of betrayal and suffering. We need one another in order to thrive, and maybe even to survive. I hope in my lifetime we can eradicate, wipe out, and destroy sexual abuse. That surely cannot to be too lofty of a goal, can it? If we communicate, we create. We need to create a safe world for all children."