A Message from a Survivor of Child Trafficking

Hello,

My name is Claire and I am a child sex trafficking survivor. My trafficking began at six years old and this year, at 24 years old, I celebrated two years of freedom. I am hopeful for many more years of freedom to come, but I am also painfully aware of how different my story could have been if those around me were equipped to spot a trafficking situation and respond accordingly.

During the course of my trafficking experience, I was taken to multiple primary care physicians, emergency departments, and a number of specialists. I was diagnosed with multiple sprains, subluxations, and dislocations. My traffickers always had an excuse for my injuries. I was asked if I was born prematurely, as evidenced by physical, emotional, and social developmental delays. My delays in development were from severe emotional neglect, physical abuse, and long-term starvation. I began struggling with suicide at 11 years old, with countless attempts, requiring 17 psychiatric hospitalizations, and acquiring 16 different psychiatric diagnoses. I attempted to tell the staff what was happening to me, but when I was not believed, I shut down. Because of this, clinicians later in my treatment did not have the knowledge they needed to properly diagnose and treat me.

 Following my escape from my traffickers, I continue to struggle with multiple chronic health conditions. I suffer with chronic pain, severe anxiety, and a variety of signs and symptoms of Complex PTSD. Several of my organs have been shown on ultrasounds to be abnormally small, so I deal with the repercussions of that. I’ve tried different combinations of over 30 psychiatric medications in attempts to manage my symptoms. I am largely reliant on my service dog to complete activities of daily living.

Due to my trafficking, I struggle daily with chronic health issues, and will continue to do so for the rest of my life. No one in my life was equipped to help me throughout those years, including the medical professionals, and I am the one left to suffer the consequences. That does not have to be the case for children currently being trafficked. Hospitals being trained on how to spot, prevent, and report trafficking could make all the difference in the lives of children being trafficked right now.

Your organization has the chance to blaze that trail before any more children are severely, permanently injured or even killed. Your organization has the opportunity to change the lives of the children in your own community and beyond. Your organization could shift the national landscape in the favor of these children that so desperately need it. Will you stand in that gap? The choice is yours.

Sincerely,

Claire