Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 880

Tonight's special guest is Liz Breuker from Alaska, an abuse survivor who runs a recover group that's a part of "The Lamplighters Movement" in Alaska. She says, "As a child, I grew up in an abusive, alcoholic household. The screaming, fighting, furniture breaking, front bay window to my house breaking, my mother and stepfather putting me in the middle of their hurricane-like fights constantly, ruined holidays, and me becoming a pseudo-mother to my brothers at six years old took a toll on me as a person (as a child)." Liz continues, "My entire youth was stolen from me, from two very greedy and unstable adults." She eventually went to many years of therapy and counseling, and goes on, "My life is much, much better now. I still struggle with low self-esteem at times; the anger that my stepfather instilled in me is unfortunately a part of me sometimes (I am extremely conscious of it and catch myself in those moments that I head down the same path my stepfather did in the moment of frustration/anger); I do not drink, and most importantly; I am a very loving, conscious mother to my three children." Life has been far from perfect. Liz explains, "As for present day: I am an advocate and activist for survivors of any age of child sexual abuse. Last summer, my husband's ex-wife's son was visiting with us in our home for a two-week summer break. During his entire visit, he was sexually abusing my two daughters, then aged six and four. He did many horrible things to them. My husband and I did everything humanly imaginable to bring healing and justice for our girls through the Alaska legal system. Since, I have introduced legislation to my AK Representative about child sexual abuse."