by Erin
Member of Resilience’s Survivor Advisory Council
Surviving sexual assault is an experience that no one should have to endure, yet for many, it becomes a devastating reality. For me, it happened multiple times throughout my life. If a program like the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program had been available—and more importantly, if I had known it was available—I could have had access to resources that might have helped me recognize, from the very first instance, that what happened to me was not okay.
Without that knowledge, I fell into a cycle of manipulation and gaslighting, which made it even harder to seek help and made me vulnerable to more violence. Reporting to law enforcement was never an option I felt comfortable with, as I had been conditioned to believe they were not there to protect me. The SANE program, however, provides a different path—a place where survivors can receive compassionate, trauma-informed medical care and support, without the immediate requirement of legal involvement. This kind of resource could have helped me, and it can still help others today.
What is a Sexual Assault Nurse Exam (SANE)? Click here to tour Resilience’s space!
Beyond my own experiences, I now look at my role as a mother. I have teenage children who have and do attend West Ottawa schools, and they—along with their friends—were completely unaware that programs like this existed. This lack of awareness is deeply concerning. A program designed to provide critical medical care, emotional support, and evidence collection for survivors of sexual assault should not be a well-kept secret. It should be something that every young person knows about, so that if they or someone they care about ever need it, they know where to turn. When vital services like these remain hidden, survivors are left without the support they need, and more people are put at risk. It is up to all of us to ensure that young people know where to turn, so no one has to suffer in silence simply because they didn’t know help was available.
Breaking cycles is something I have committed myself to. I have done it before, and if this is the next challenge on my plate, I am more than ready. Raising awareness about the SANE program is not just important—it is necessary. Survivors deserve to know that they have options, that they have support, and that their experiences matter. If sharing my story can help even one person find the strength to seek help, then every word is worth it.
To anyone reading this: Know that you are not alone. Know that support exists. And know that breaking cycles is possible—with the right resources, the right knowledge, and the right community standing beside you.
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Want to learn more about our Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program? Visit www.ResilienceMI.org/sexual-assault
