Cerebral Palsy

Now in her mid-20s, Sara said she is shy and nervous around the opposite sex and does not see herself being able to get married and have children.

But that has nothing to do with her disorder or heart condition.

From ages 10 to 17, Sara was sexually assaulted by her father.

She is one of Yuma County's victims of child abuse and one of many who have been recognized during April, National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

"I want to, but I don't see it," she said of marrying.

"Boyfriends, yeah, but marriage, I doubt ...

I don't have trust in anybody." But Sara is different.

Unlike most victims, she reported the abuse, according to Diane Umphress, executive director of Amberly's Place.

According to Umphress, the local crisis victim center has seen a slight increase in physical abuse of children during the first three months of 2007 compared with 2006.

Amberly's Place helped 315 child victims of sexual abuse in 2006 and 41 child victims of physical abuse.

She attributes the rise to education creating a higher public awareness about reporting abuse.

Overall, Amberly's served 1,500 child and adult victims in 2006, a 25 percent increase in total crimes from 2005, according to Umphress.

The organization helped Sara when she reported the abuse.

Sara said she is willing to tell her story...

Read more...