Cate
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
‘Some people can’t seem to understand about being abused, sexually and mentally also physically, or even having a disability or being neglected in their life.’
Two years ago Cate had a heart attack and sustained a brain aneurism as a result of domestic abuse.
She was on life support for a number of days and in hospital for a month.
Cate told the Royal Commission she now has physical and cognitive disabilities.
‘I have memory problems. I don’t feel like myself which personally sucks quite a lot! Since my bleeding to my brain I’ve lost my spark.’
While Cate was in hospital her mother-in-law took custody of her children.
‘So while I had to deal with learning to walk etc I had to deal with not having the care of my girls. So basically just getting my motherhood taken off me … that’s how I feel.’
Cate said she’s ‘been a complete mess – lost and confused’. She started taking illegal drugs. ‘I didn’t know how to deal with my emotions.’
Cate first experienced mental, physical and sexual abuse when she was a child. This caused her to neglect herself when she was a teenager.
If people haven’t had a traumatic childhood, Cate said, they can be judgemental.
Sometimes she feels like giving up, but she doesn’t.
‘Life is way too beautiful to give up as I’ve learned now due to having a near death experience twice.’
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.