My name is Denise Callahan and I’m 45 years old. I live way out in the country. The nearest town, if you can call it that, is an hour away. There’s a gas station and a bar there, that’s all. We have twenty beautiful acers. I used to love to ride our horses or even just walk around the property. Now I love to sit on the back porch and look out over the landscape. Jim or one of the kids will help me wheel my chair into my favorite corner of the porch and I can just sit there for hours.

I’ve been in the chair for five years now, since the accident. I don’t remember much, except that Jim was upset when he was driving and lost control of the car. Our six children have been wonderful, each one more helpful then the next.

I’ve had a lot more time to think and to pray since the accident. And a priest even comes out to visit every so often. The closest Catholic Church is 50 miles from here, so it’s a gift when the Father comes to visit.

Sometimes I think about the first time I met Jim. He asked me if I wanted to go riding with him. He was so impressed with me and how I handed the horse. I kept blushing, but it was true. I had a lot of skill. After that, we went riding every week. Six months later, he asked me to marry him. That was the one time I almost fell off my horse!

The problems began later.

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ABUSE HAPPENS – Card #1