ADVERTISER CHRISTMAS FUND
Mother seeks new clothes for daughter on mend
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
From the change in her teenage daughter's attitude, "S.A." knew something was wrong. But she could not get the girl to talk about it.
At first, S.A. thought it might be school related. "I knew she was hiding something," the girl's 41-year-old mother said. "I went to her school but they told me she was doing her work."
S.A. discovered what happened, but not before the girl told her mother that she wanted to commit suicide.
Helping Hands Hawai'i • Our anonymous Santa will match the first $25 of all contributions. • Donations to the Christmas Fund can also be dropped off at First Hawaiian Bank branches statewide. To donate canned food or household goods, call the Helping Hands Hawai'i Community Clearinghouse at 536-7234.
S.A. learned that her boyfriend had sexually assaulted her daughter repeatedly. The man is in prison for the offenses but S.A.'s daughter is struggling emotionally and has little self-esteem.
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"It's going to take a while," S.A. said. "We tried to put her back in school but it didn't work out. She's afraid that everyone will think she's different. Right now, we have a tutor for her."
The girl sleeps with her mother because she cannot bear to be in her own room. "We even had to throw out all her clothes because it reminded her of him," S.A. said.
In time, S.A. hopes her daughter will come to trust people again.
S.A. cannot afford to buy new clothes for her daughter, who is a size 16. "Any help would be appreciated," she said.
