Caution: This story includes reference to sexual assault.
My grandmother was a folk healer. That term is not used much these days. A generally accepted definition of a folk healer is an unlicensed person in the community who practices the art of healing using traditional methods to alleviate pain and spiritual suffering. Her name was Pearl Harklerode. But everyone in the community called her Mammaw Doc, which was short for Mammaw Doctor.
When my mother was around ten years old, a neighbor called Mammaw Doc and said he was suffering a health problem and needed help getting groceries from the store. Being the caretaker of the community, Mammaw Doc sent my mom and one of her brothers to the neighbors house to go to the store for him.
When my mom and uncle arrived at the neighbors house, the neighbor gave cash to my uncle and sent him to the store alone. That left mom alone and vulnerable. While my uncle was gone the man sexually assaulted her. Then threatened to harm her and my uncle if she told anyone. She did not.
She had to deal with that trauma alone as a child. Can you imagine her pain and suffering?
Years later, mom had put herself through school and become a Registered Nurse. She was working at Grace Hospital. One day the neighbor, the man who assaulted her, was admitted to the hospital with a terminal illness. Mom was assigned to be his nurse. Can you imagine her pain and suffering?
Mom gave him kind and compassionate care even though she did not feel like he deserved it. She believed that choosing mercy was spiritually and morally right no matter how much pain and suffering she was experiencing.
Mom confided this to me about thirty years ago. I share it with you now because men in positions of power and influence continue to be excused for this evil behavior and it infuriates me.
Boy or girl, man or woman, if you are the victim of sexual violence I want you know know you are precious and dear. I pray that mercy, kindness and compassion find you and surround you. You are loved.