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The story of Luana , six year old , Brazil
Luana
The story shows :
• Abused by her adopted father from the age of six .
• Became pregnant at 15 .
• Shows obsessive behaviour towards her two-year-old child .
Until she was three years old , Luana lived in a group foster home for children . One day , she was adopted by a farming couple who lived in the countryside and could not have children . They were a withdrawn couple who did not express affection or emotions .
At the age of six , her adoptive father took her out to fish on the lake . They did not return for a long time , but the mother did not pay attention . That day , Luana was raped for the first time . Luana remembers the pain she felt during that first sexual assault , which was an anal rape .
Her adopted father continued to abuse Luana for several years . The assaults remained secret . Luana had ambivalent feelings for her father , whom she felt she should protect , though he attacked her . Her affection was mixed with fear , and fear of the violence associated with her repeated abuse . She attended school regularly , but never told anyone what was happening .
The years passed and Luana became sexually mature . At the age of 15 , she discovered that she was pregnant . Her mother , who had neglected her for years , defended her husband and told Luana not to reveal his name . She competed with Luana for her husband ’ s attention . The adopted father manipulated and controlled Luana by giving her gifts .
Alone , afraid of her parents ’ threats , Luana obeyed . Under pressure from the community , she even accused a classmate of being the baby ’ s father , so that the suspicion would not fall on the family .
After an investigation by the Guardianship Council and the court of justice , it became clear that her adopted father was the aggressor . In this terrible situation , Luana ’ s grandmother , who lived nearby , was the only family member to support and guide her , strengthening the bond between them .
Luana was 17 years old when an anal exam revealed old wounds and fissures . She and her daughter , Bruna , then 2 years old , were placed in a group foster home . They lived there for ten months . Luana was able to tell her story and receive support from professionals and helpers . She told them of her parents ’ emotional neglect , that they fought constantly with her and did not buy her clothes .
Luana was very possessive of Bruna . She was afraid of losing her , that she might be stolen , especially at night . She stayed with Bruna all the time , and needed to sleep with her , feel her body . She had nightmares about losing the right to keep her daughter .
APPENDIX
While in the shelter , Luana showed several psychiatric symptoms , including fatigue , frequent crying crises , fragmented sleep , headaches , sadness , feeling of worthlessness and guilt . She also suffered from binge eating . She attended weekly individual psychotherapy sessions and the psychologist identified severe depressive symptoms with suicidal thoughts . She took medication for some time .
At the shelter , Luana came to like an older caregiver who guided her on how to behave in social situations and how to take care of her daughter . Luana was visibly unable to take care of herself .