Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 389

Tonight's special guests are Melissa and Vale (a mother and her adopted son) from Pennsylvania. Vale, 15, a child sexual abuse survivor in previous foster homes, was a problem as a young teenager. Now in recovery, he's been telling his story in the hopes he can help others come forward. As Vale says, "At first, it's really nerve-wracking to tell people, because it's a really big secret and you keep it for a while. But, the more that you talk about it and the more relaxed you feel, especially if it's someone who you trust." Vale's parents became especially alarmed when they discovered he'd turned to "cutting" as a way of dealing with his pain. His mom, herself a child abuse survivor, now writes a BLOG where she explains, "I wanted to put something out there for other moms who discover that their wonderful, beautiful sons are using their forearms to carve out their pain. When facing a dark and frightening battle, there is nothing more assuring than knowing that we're not facing it alone. It's my hope that by writing about us, our joys and our struggles, another parent, or friend, or family is encouraged."