SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) - One victim of child sexual abuse tells News 3 to stay vigilant this holiday season and to have open conversations with your children to protect their innocence and peace of mind.
An estimated 1 in 10 children will experience sexual abuse before their 18th birthday. One of those kids was Shondtel Walker. She says she started getting abused at the age of 12 during the holidays by a person she thought she could trust. She says if her parents listened to her the life she lives now would be completely different.
"Going to her and her not believing me it added trauma on top of trauma," said Walker.
It's trauma that says she has experienced twice: one time by a pastor, and the other by her own family.
"I would go to my aunts and I would actually help her decorate for Christmas. And then I became being molested by being a first cousin."
She says the effects of that abuse have been devastating.
"I was a dancer. I was an exotic dancer for 12 years. So it took me down that it took me down a lot of roles that I would have never have happened now. As far as the violent side of it, I started drinking. I started using drugs. I started doing a whole lot of things that I never would have done to numb the pain that I couldn't talk about.
Walker says she wished she had open communication with a trusted adult in her life.
"So if you do not have a open relationship with your child, your child is going to find someone to have an open relationship with. So the key to that is, is developing a relationship. And even when you're wrong, the key to that is saying I'm sorry. Two adults can say I'm sorry. It's okay. I had to go back and apologize to my child. Many of times it's okay to say I'm sorry."
Experts say not only does child sexual abuse dramatically alter the course of your children's life and future, but it can also cost them over $200,000 to get the help they need to heal.
If you think your child may be experiencing any signs and symptoms of child sexual abuse or you're dealing with the effects we have links to resources on our website, wsav.com/crisishotline.