NEW ORLEANS — One in nine girls are sexually abused before the age of 18, and 1 in 20 boys, according to the National Center for Victims of Crime. 30-year-old Tonisha Jones never thought she'd become a number in that statistic.
"Our mother put a lot of fear in our hearts, she said what goes in my house stays in my house," said Jones.
That's what inspired her to pen her thoughts on paper to publish a tell-all titled "Understanding My Truths."
Jones said her stepfather came to get her out of bed. "He said my mom wanted to speak with me, he woke me up and I noticed he was naked when he came to get me."
"Writing helped me cope." Jones said she wanted to write the book to share with other women around the world and even men, "that's been through it."
In the book, Jones bravely discusses overcoming trauma and alleged child abuse by her stepfather on the night of June 12, 2005.
"He made me take my clothes off and made me get in bed. He started kissing me and I started crying. I always asked God what did I do to deserve this."
Throughout her teen years, Jones' life went on a dangerous downward spiral. Abuse in the home continued and she turned to alcohol and partying to numb the pain. At 14 she was kicked out of the family home and later attempted to take her own life.
It was during her "darkest hour" when hardships were met with a blessing, she was expecting her first child.
"I didn't know what to do, I was afraid of having kids. But God gave me a daughter," Jones said.
The birth of her daughter would prompt her to embark on a healing journey. She began therapy sessions and rediscovered her love for writing.
Now happily married and a mother of two, Jones said by sharing her uncomfortable truths, she hopes to educate the community and encourage other victims to come forward.
"Tell somebody. Get away and don't ever feel like it's your fault because it's not."
► Get breaking news from your neighborhood delivered directly to you by downloading the new FREE WWL-TV News app now in the IOS App Store or Google Play.