Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 3115

Tonight's special guest is Donna Bulatowicz  from Billings, Montana. "I was a shy, sweet, sensitive child," she says, "who loved learning and teaching. My favorite pretend play was 'school', where I was the teacher. I loved school, but that changed one year." All of the upper elementary teachers were new to the school that year, she reports. "My new teacher told me I was the prettiest little girl she'd ever seen, and she kept touching my body, even though I pulled away from her every time. I had no idea she was grooming me." Understandably she was deeply uncomfortable, and afraid. "That year, she molested me hundreds of times." Donna reported her the following year. The police said a woman wouldn't molest a girl, and they did not do the investigation they should have. She was devastated. "My parents put me in therapy, but there was so much my abuser did that I couldn't articulate as a child. I started shoving down the memories of the abuse any time they came up. I spent my teenage years in survival mode." The family moved far away at 19 years old, and Donna stopped wanting to be a teacher for a while. "But when I was in college, I decided I wouldn't let my abuser take anything else from me, and I chose to pursue my dream. I became a teacher. And I kept shoving down the memories of the abuse any time they appeared, which was rarely. I had buried myself in work--easy to do as a teacher." But she loved her career. "Eventually, I earned my Ph.D. and started teaching preservice teachers." Traumatic memories often returned. "About six months ago, I started having extremely realistic dreams about my abuser. I realized that I still needed to heal. I am facing all that she did to me and the damage she caused." Donna says, "I hope to help others through education and workshops."