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Light One Candle: Sex assault victim is desperate for therapy Saturday Dec 16, 2017 at 12:01 AM Sarah Lemon for the Mail Tribune @thewholedish Editor’s note: Light One Candle is an annual series sponsored by the Mail Tribune that focuses on an individual, group or agency who could use a helping hand during the holiday season. Once that need is filled, donations may be distributed to others in need. This college student survived incest and overcame nearly insurmountable obstacles before sexual assault shattered her self-confidence and sense of security. Counseling would benefit the 22-year-old woman, but constant worries over money prevent her from taking a few hours off work for therapy. Financial assistance toward paying her rent and for counseling would be a lifeline for this woman. The only tangible items she desires are food and a toy for her 12-year-old “emotional support” cat. Emotional support always has been in short supply for this woman, independent since age 13. Refusing to sink under the weight of sorrow when incest cast her adrift, she emerged from homelessness, finished high school locally and started taking community-college classes, which steered her toward teaching. Now enrolled full time at Southern Oregon University, she is the first in her family to attend college and is poised to continue her education in graduate school. But sexual assault at the hands of someone she trusted recently stole the sense of accomplishment that this woman fought so hard to achieve. Reliving her childhood trauma, she knows the attack will continue to haunt her if healing isn’t a priority. Yet she literally can’t afford to take time for herself. “Most sexual assault survivors feel so invisible and alone,” said Susan Moen, executive director of Jackson County Sexual Assault Response Team. “It would be such a generous gift to let her know that people recognize all she has gone through.” To help: Call Moen at 541-840-0904 or email [email protected].