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I recently watched the Netflix movie Nyad, which recounts the story of Diana Nyad, a marathon swimmer who, at age 60, makes a bold decision to achieve a lifelong goal: become the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without a protective shark cage. Diana had previously attempted this feat 30 years earlier. After three attempts at 64, Diana finally realizes her dream by completing the 103-mile journey in 53 hours.
Resilience. Determination. Perseverance. These are just a few words that come to mind when describing Diana. As a teenager, Diana's swim coach abused her. At the age of 21, Diana disclosed her abuse to a teammate who, in turn, also revealed that their swimming coach abused her too. Despite Diana and other teammates reporting the abuse, their coach received accolades over the coming years, even being inducted into the hall of fame.
Did you know that 70% of kids don't disclose their abuse during childhood? Untreated child abuse can leave a lasting impact on those affected, manifesting in various ways, such as anxiety, depression, physical health illnesses, perfectionism, and high levels of achievement. For survivors, the abuse is a part of their story. Throughout Diana's life, including while training at the age of 64, flashbacks of her abuse surfaced. Witnessing her abuser celebrated on a pedestal continued to fuel Diana's will to reclaim her story, overcome the odds, and achieve that swimming record.
The responsibility of recognizing the signs of abuse lies on the shoulders of adults. Could there have been another intervention for Diana as a teenager? What would adults today do in that situation? The key to prevention is adult and child education, which creates a common language for safety. This is why we are dedicated to expanding our adult education program at Sunflower House. We educate children and adults, allowing them to know how to recognize, respond to, and report abuse. Protecting children is the responsibility of adults.
I think of the kids who come through our door and the misconceptions about why survivors may want to reclaim their stories just like Diana did. By doing so, it doesn't negate the abuse they've suffered or their need for support. At Sunflower House, we see first-hand the impact that early identification and treatment of abuse can have on children's lives. Without intervention, long-term effects can be devastating. That's why we're committed to expanding our adult education program in 2024, including our new trauma awareness class. Sign up for a class and learn how to recognize, respond to, and report abuse. As adults, it is our responsibility to keep kids safe. Register for our adult education classes here: https://sunflowerhouse.org/register/
Warmly,
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