Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 2621

Tonight's special guest is Christine Samad from Valrico, Florida. She explains, "My foster parents emotionally and psychologically abused me. I was placed in foster care at three days old. They had six of their own biological children who were older and not living in the house (except for the youngest daughter). I lived in fear. I stayed quiet and isolated." She's healing now. "I started healing during the pandemic when I started recognizing my feelings, and giving myself permission to grieve and feel angry. I started using better help, and when I was ready for in person therapy, my counselor helped me and supported me through the change." Christine explains, "I have a biological father who passed in 2011. I would visit him monthly. He was struggling and working hard with no support. He was trying to raise my sister and not lose us both. He struggled with depression and anger. My biological mother has not been in my life. She has schizophrenia, and set our house on fire when I was a baby." Home life was always difficult. "I lived in a house that was filled with domestic violence, racism, substance abuse and secrets. I learned how to stay quiet and follow the rules to stay safe. I felt unidentified, isolated, depressed." Now on her healing journey, Christine says, "I am currently making art and sharing my story. I have started creating YouTube videos as well. I have made goals to speak to parents who want to foster children, and on social media I am creating awareness about emotional trauma. I am writing a poetry and art book and will be publishing it later this year. This will be my third self-published poetry book. They'll be available on Amazon."