It’s been a really long time since I read a powerful book. One which hits you when you least expect it at your softest spot, producing an effect similar to wanting to cry and throw up at the same time. And after that effect has past, you spend the rest of your living if not sleeping hours reeling from shock and anger, disturbed that it was actually someone’s life story.
Cathy Glass, a foster carer in the UK has looked after more than 50 children over 20 years. Jodie was the most abused and disturbed child she had come across. Only 8 when she was seized from her drug addict mother and alcoholic father by Social Services, Jodie was found to be such a difficult child that she changed 5 carers in 4 months.
On the first day she arrived in Cathy’s home, Jodie defecated in her pants and smeared shit all over her face. The overweight girl with an evil grin like Chucky the doll was violent, rude and bad-tempered. She had no concept of time or place, she had the mental state of a 4-year-old, she lacked co-ordination and basic motor skills.
Cathy uncovered the sinister story behind her psychotic behaviour when she saw Jodie masturbating in the living room, and a few days later, licking between the naked legs of her life-size doll. When Cathy wanted to take a photo of Jodie for record purposes, Jodie asked if she should remove her clothes.
Jodie cut herself on the first night and smeared her blood all over herself. On most nights she woke up many times screaming and crying, claiming people were watching her. Sometimes she laid there rock stiff, pupils dilated as if she was possessed. Sometimes she hallucinated, kicked and shouted, vomitted and lost control of her bowels.
She spoke to her imaginary friends and later took on different personalities. Sometimes she spoke in a baby voice, a deep manly voice, or an angry housewife tone. She refused to interact with anyone and hated people for looking at her.
Jodie was the victim of sexual abuse probably when she was still a toddler. She was raped repeatedly by her father, uncle, grandfather and other friends and family members. Her mother and the women inserted objects into her privates. Everyone watched and laughed when this was going on. She was photographed. And then she was given toys. CAT scans revealed that parts of her brain were damaged probably as a result of being hit as an infant. This resulted in her slow mental development.
This was a girl who was on Social Services’ at-risk register since childbirth, yet nobody came to her rescue when she was being abused repeatedly by her own family, whom are part of a paedophile ring.
Toward the end of her time with Cathy, Jodie displayed signs of mental breakdown. She stayed in bed for long periods. She was eventually transferred to a therapeutic unit to receive help.
I cannot get this story out of my head, mainly because of Jodie’s really psychotic behaviour as a result of the horrible extent of abuse she had gone through.
The role of parents is to protect their young, not prey on them. If wild beasts can play by that rule, it really disturbs me to see that we as intellectually developed humans can’t.
Damaged by Cathy Glass is available at major bookstores at S$19.30. Cathy Glass is also the author of Hidden
Miss C
