I used to work for a Sheriff’s department in the Victim Assistant Unit. At the time, I was 23 years old and very thrilled with my new promotion to this unit. During my time in this unit I met many children who were survivors and victims of violent crimes. But there is always one child in a position like this who says or does something that makes you always remember them. In this unit we did crisis intervention with victims of violent crimes. A lot of times those victims were children who had been neglected, beaten, molested, etc. This is about a little girl who really grabbed hold of my heart.
One evening I was called out of bed by dispatch for a 5 year old girl who was a molest victim. I arrived on the scene and met the sweetest and bravest little girl with angel like blond hair and blue eyes. I talked with her for a while and I took her to the hospital for a molest exam and then I was to take her to the Guardian Home for what is known as CHINs (Children In Need of Services). This is a place where children are safe and a case worker would decide the child’s fate.
Never once at the hospital did this little girl cry. She was very brave and told the doctors, and the police, and me, everything she needed to tell. She was told she was going to a safe place and she knew she wouldn’t be sleeping in her warm bed at her own home. But she smiled and said it would be nice to be someplace she could sleep and be safe from her daddy. The man was really her step daddy but the only so called father the child had ever known.
On the way to the guardian home she noticed my daughter’s car seat. She turned and looked at me and asked, “Do you have a little girl?” I told her, ” Yes I do, she is 3 years younger than you.” The little girl’s angel eyes got filled with tears, but she smiled at me and took my hand and said, “I wish I was your little girl because I know she is safe with you and you would never let her daddy hurt her. I really wish I had a mommy like you.”
I had to turn my head and look out the window because of the crying those words brought to my heart. We arrived at the guardian home and the little girl hugged me when I was about to leave and said, “I will be okay now. Thank you for making me safe to go to sleep.”
I have never forgotten those words or the braveness of that sweet little girl. I just wanted to remind everyone that those little vicitms are the bravest children I have ever met. I have met many many survivors like her and they come in all ages. Thank you for reading and say a prayer for the little survivors.