I Was Only 9 Years Old

Kelly，Minnesota

Hi Dr. Patti,

Thank you so much for writing "Invisible Girls". I am 14 years old and your book helped me so much, I just wanted to say your book it was amazing. My name is Kelly I was abused when I was just 9 years old I am 14 now. I remember when I was abused my mom would work late and my uncle would take care of me and my other uncle would always be downstairs. The one that raped me was 17 years old. I didn't know what raped was until I had seen a show. My uncle would always take me to the closet and would tell me to lay down on the floor. He would make me take off my pants and do many things to me. That had happened to me every day at night he would do that to me as much as I try to forget it I can't. There was also a time that my mom had gotten a pool for me and my cousins and he was standing up like if he was a primate and he will tell us to go between his legs and he would always touch me he didn't touch my cousins because there were guys. But every day he would always be doing the same thing to me touching me in places I didn't want to be touched and doing things he shouldn't be doing to me. He took advantage of me just because he knew I was just a little girl that didn't know much. I didn't know what made him do that to me did I do something that made him think I wanted him to do all those things to me? The thing that stopped him from abusing me was that one day he was in a car crash with two of his friends. I wanted to post my story on the Girlthrive website because I want other girls that are 14 or even younger to know that they are not alone and that they are not the only ones that have gone on a tough moment like I did when I was younger. I want young girls to know that it is alright to speak out.

Thank you for everything Dr. Patti.

...........Sincerely, Kelly.

Dr. Patti responds: 

Hi Kelly， 

I am so so glad you have read "Invisible Girls" and that it has helped you!! 

You ask the question: "I didn't know what made him do that to me did I do something that made him think I wanted him to do all those things to me?" 

To answer your question, NO YOU DID NOT DO ANYTHING TO MAKE HIM THINK THAT YOU WANTED HIM TO DO THOSE THINGS TO YOU! NONE OF THIS IS YOUR FAULT! 

I am glad that he can not hurt you again. You are very young and very brave. As you read in "Invisible Girls," as long as you talk about the abuse and deal with it when you are young – and that could be even in your 20's – you will thrive and heal and have a wonderful life! You could join our facebook page, Invisible Girls: The Truth About Sexual Abuse. I love that you have reached out at the age of 14 and that you want other girls to know that they too can reach out and tell girls their story. You have many many years ahead of you for a happy, filled, healthy wonderful life. Heck, you have your whole adolescence in front of you! 

................................xoxo, Dr. Patti.