Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 1355

Tonight's special guest is Joy Spencer from Glendale, California, a survivor of verbal abuse by her father, who was a young holocaust survivor. "This must have started around the age of 10 or so. At least that's what I remember. Some of my memories are blocked out and are fuzzy," Joy says. "My father was a very unhappy man for a long time and took out his frustrations on my mother and myself. He had a terrible temper." He was never able to make a living and was a very miserable person. "I lived with my parents until I was 17 when I found out that my dad had stolen money from me. She says. "I had enough and went to go live with my grandparents, my mom's parents, who were like my second set of parents." This was her senior year of high school and she was preparing for college where she eventually obtain a BA in theatre. "It was very therapeutic. If it hadn't been for singing and acting, I don't think I would have made it through college." Now she's 35 and living well with her husband and 2 cats. "I still have certain trust issues and flashbacks from my past and don't always feel completely safe," Joy says. "But getting therapy, having a supportive group of family and friends helps. I know not everyone is so lucky." Joy reports she's ".. hoping to gain greater self esteem through this whole process and move forward and have a happy and fulfilling life .. and educate others in the process."