Valerie
Five-year-old Valerie survived trauma that no child should experience. She saw her father punch and strangle her mother, while her mother held Valerie’s baby sister in her arms. As her mother fell unconscious to the floor, Valerie was able to escape, running to a neighbor’s home for help. Officers arrived in time to save her mother and sister, but the severe trauma of that night haunted Valerie. She would not eat. She was angry, fearful and had frequent nightmares about her father.
It was difficult for Valerie and her family to adjust to life in the emergency shelter. She was skeptical and confused. She was also sad because she thought she would miss her favorite holiday – Halloween. For months, she had dreamed of dressing up like a super hero.
Imagine her surprise to receive a beautiful “Super Woman” costume just before Halloween! She ran to hug her advocate. That afternoon, Valerie and the other children in the emergency shelter “trick-or-treated” inside the building, stopping at every office, gathering candy and compliments from Shelter staff.
Children are profoundly affected by abuse. Thanks to you, Valerie was able to heal from her trauma and transform into the super hero she truly is!