The struggles Krista experiences each day can be difficult to comprehend. She lives in a world of silence, where she's unable to hear or speak. Learning sign-language makes it easier for her to interact with people, develop relationships, and have a "normal" life. At age 27, she's fighting to make ends meet as a single mom raising a 3 year old son.

When a friend told her about a party in Tampa where there would be other "signing" people, she jumped at the opportunity to meet new people and make friends.  She was looking forward to a night where she could have fun in a safe environment.

When she arrived at the party, she met up with friends and had a drink. She was introduced to a man she recognized from Facebook.

Her next memory is waking up in a locked room at the party with the same man sexually assaulting her.  Krista physically resisted while he made multiple attempts. She did everything in her power to make a noise to make him stop and call for help.  

Krista was scared, angry, confused, and ashamed. She didn't report anything that night, but the next day confided in a friend. Her friend convinced her to report the assault to law enforcement, who brought her to Sexual Assault Services (SAS) at the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.

At the Crisis Center she was met by a nurse examiner and a volunteer advocate. The Crisis Center also  arranged for a sign language interpreter to be there, so Krista could understand her options and be fully involved in the forensic exam process. She was able to go onto Facebook and identify, "Travis" the friend of a friend who had assaulted her.

Krista is now moving ahead to press charges against Travis. She wants to begin to heal from the trauma she has experienced and has said she plans to participate in survivor empowerment programs.

Last year 305 survivors came to Sexual Assault Services for a forensic exam and 284 survivors participated in empowerment programs. Your support of the Crisis Center makes it possible for brave women like Krista to receive the help they need to begin to heal from abuse and assault.