Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 2680

Tonight's special guest is Lavinia Masters from Dallas, Texas, whose  mother divorced her father when she was 2 months old. "My childhood sexual abuse had to start at an early age, before 5 years of age," she says. "I do not remember who the abuser or abusers were because the memories did not return into my late 30's after I started advocating for victims and the rape-kit backlog," explaining, "I was brutally raped at the age of 13 years old by a stranger that broke into our home." She also has a book: 'Breathe Again'. "I was very angry and bitter to the point that I trusted no one. I do not remember getting away from my abuser, I just remember that when we moved to Dallas that I stop having bed wetting accidents and the I have better memories since the age of 7 years old. When it comes to the rape, I held that fear of that stranger for over a decade as he told me that he knew me and my family and he would come back and kill me if he saw the police come out." She goes on, "I am now an outspoken advocate for victims of sexual violence and abuse as well as the rape kit back log of which a law was named after me here in the State of Texas, HB THE LAVINIA MASTERS ACT. I have also started the Hope S.A.V.E.S. Ministry - www.hopesavesminisrtry.org - that empowers victims to find and use their voices through resources, programs and various initiatives and collaborations." Lavinia's spiritual life helps. "I believe that God gives us all the power to live above our abuse with powers given to us and one of the greatest powers is our voice."