(saddening music)

- [Narrator] Growingup in South Louisiana,

Chantal Webber's childhoodwas far from idyllic,

with a mother who was emotionally distant

and verbally abusive.

- I always felt she hated me.

She never said she loved me.

She never said I was pretty.

- [Narrator] When her parents decided

to let a family memberlive on their property,

the pain only escalated oncehe began to abuse Chantal.

- From the time I waseight until I was 12,

that abuse went on and he would tell me

that if I ever said anythinghe would abuse my baby sister.

I didn't want anything to happen to her

and so I just didn't say anything.

I think I naturally just blamed myself.

I knew it had to be my fault.

(water running)

That I had to be really bad.

- [Narrator] Unable toconfide in her mother,

Chantal suffered quietly.

The abuse finally ended but her mother's

excessive partying madeher more irrational

in her contempt for her daughter.

- So I was in eighthgrade and I came home.

She had my bag packed and she said,

"Get in the car, we're going somewhere."

And I said, "Where are we going?"

And she wouldn't talk.

And it's a hospital, Ican tell, and I'm like,

"Why are we at a hospital?"

And she said, "You'll see."

- [Narrator] Withoutany medical evaluation,

her mother had arranged to have Chantal

committed to a mental institution.

I'd say, "Mom, what is going on?"

And she says, "Don't worry about it."

She signed a paper and walkedout and never looked back.

I go to the room and Icurl up in a fetal position

on the floor in the bathroom and just cry

and I'm just like, Ifelt like I was in jail.

- [Narrator] After three weeks, Chantal

began to open up to her psychiatrist.

- I told him I was sexually abused,

that my Mom didn't loveme, that she was always

verbally mean to me.

That she drank and she partied,

and she was more worriedabout other people than me.

And after about a weekhe told me I would need

to share these things with my Mom.

- [Narrator] Chantal knew aconfrontation with her mother

would not go well, butshe agreed to talk to her.

- Without hesitation, sheslaps me clean across the face,

calls me a lying curse word and says,

"This is what you broughtme down here for."

Walks out the room, slamsthe door and leaves.

- [Narrator] Chantalwas allowed a home visit

the following weekend when her parents

would be throwing a largeSaint Patrick's Day party.

The man who abused her was invited.

(emotional music)

- My Mom picks me up andas coldly as you could be

she said, "Chantal, don'tyou make him feel unwelcome,

and don't you dare say whatyou told me to anyone else,

'cause if you do, you'll neverget out of that hospital."

- [Narrator] From that moment on,

Chantal decided to bury the pain deep

inside her heart and mind.

- I learned to put on my maskand wear a mask every day.

And I never said I needed help.

I never cried out for helpbecause I didn't trust

that I would ever get it.

- [Narrator] After threemonths were completed,

she went home.

She kept her distance from her mom,

went on to finish high school,get a job and move out.

In the coming years shedid her best to keep

the hurt hidden, but it foundit's way to the surface.

- I got married to a guy who abused me.

I left him, got pregnantfor a guy who I didn't love,

and went, "Okay.

You had a chance and you did it all wrong,

you're really bad."

- [Narrator] Around thattime, someone told her

about a church that hadjust opened their doors.

- My perception of God wasthat he was gonna judge me.

I did not think he would love me.

I thought he would actually reject me,

but I wanted to try.

- [Narrator] Pregnant andsearching for answers,

Chantal made an appointmentwith a pastor at the new church.

- I sat down and said, "Ineed to get some things

off my chest" and I justwent through my life,

of everything I did wrong,including being abused.

Everything I thought that was my fault.

She says, "Can you stand up?"

And I stood up and she hugged me.

And when she hugged me I felt love

and I had never felt love before.

I felt loved.

And she said, "Jesus lovesyou just where you are."

And I was like, "Why?

I'm bad" and she says, "No, it's okay."

And she said, "Do you wanna accept Jesus?"

And she led me in prayerand I felt, just freedom.

- [Narrator] Chantalforgave the family member

who abused her and before her mother died

she was able to mend their relationship.

Today she is happily married, loving life

with her daughter andson and has found freedom

that only comes fromrelying on Jesus Christ.

- I was independent my whole life.

I needed no one or nothingand now I'm totally today,

I don't do anythingwithout asking God first.

I'm dependent on him.

God restored relationships thatshould have remained broken.

He taught me how toforgive people and in that

I have freedom.