Meg Appelgate

or being covered in blood after a horrific car crash, I was praised if I didn't seek help or ask for a doctor. No matter what was going on, needing help was seen as being dramatic. Now, as an adult, the mindset has stuck with me. I almost never ask for help, thinking that sitting in pain is somehow better than being a burden by trying to fix it.

Yep. Sounds so crazy, right? One Thanksgiving day, my dad came to visit me in the program. And while I was practicing my driving, since I only had my learner's permit at the time, we ended up getting into a serious car crash. The car rolled multiple times and ended up landing upside down. My hand smashed the windshield and I was a bloody mess.

Yep. Sounds so crazy, right? One Thanksgiving day, my dad came to visit me in the program. And while I was practicing my driving, since I only had my learner's permit at the time, we ended up getting into a serious car crash. The car rolled multiple times and ended up landing upside down. My hand smashed the windshield and I was a bloody mess.

Yep. Sounds so crazy, right? One Thanksgiving day, my dad came to visit me in the program. And while I was practicing my driving, since I only had my learner's permit at the time, we ended up getting into a serious car crash. The car rolled multiple times and ended up landing upside down. My hand smashed the windshield and I was a bloody mess.

But my first thought after crawling out through the window was, I have to get to Thanksgiving dinner so I don't get called dramatic for this. People had stopped on the side of the road to help us. I remember them saying they were calling an ambulance, but I told them to stop. I thought that if I could just make it to Thanksgiving dinner, despite everything,

But my first thought after crawling out through the window was, I have to get to Thanksgiving dinner so I don't get called dramatic for this. People had stopped on the side of the road to help us. I remember them saying they were calling an ambulance, but I told them to stop. I thought that if I could just make it to Thanksgiving dinner, despite everything,

But my first thought after crawling out through the window was, I have to get to Thanksgiving dinner so I don't get called dramatic for this. People had stopped on the side of the road to help us. I remember them saying they were calling an ambulance, but I told them to stop. I thought that if I could just make it to Thanksgiving dinner, despite everything,

The program owners would be proud of me for being strong enough to not need help. And that is what I did. My dad and I took a taxi because the car was obviously totaled to Thanksgiving. And the owner was extremely proud of me.

The program owners would be proud of me for being strong enough to not need help. And that is what I did. My dad and I took a taxi because the car was obviously totaled to Thanksgiving. And the owner was extremely proud of me.

The program owners would be proud of me for being strong enough to not need help. And that is what I did. My dad and I took a taxi because the car was obviously totaled to Thanksgiving. And the owner was extremely proud of me.

I mean, I would say a conservative estimate would be that approximately 120,000 to 200,000 youth are housed in these types of programs every year.

I mean, I would say a conservative estimate would be that approximately 120,000 to 200,000 youth are housed in these types of programs every year.

I mean, I would say a conservative estimate would be that approximately 120,000 to 200,000 youth are housed in these types of programs every year.

Yeah, awareness is key. The movement to stop institutional child abuse isn't new. For the past 50 years, survivors have been sharing their stories and hoping for change. But there's been a shift in recent years that gives us a real shot of making a difference.

Yeah, awareness is key. The movement to stop institutional child abuse isn't new. For the past 50 years, survivors have been sharing their stories and hoping for change. But there's been a shift in recent years that gives us a real shot of making a difference.

Yeah, awareness is key. The movement to stop institutional child abuse isn't new. For the past 50 years, survivors have been sharing their stories and hoping for change. But there's been a shift in recent years that gives us a real shot of making a difference.

So starting around 2020, high-profile survivors like Paris Hilton, Drew Barrymore, and Kat Von D started speaking out through docu-series, documentaries, podcasts, and news stories. These stories shined a spotlight on the industry and ramped up the pressure.

So starting around 2020, high-profile survivors like Paris Hilton, Drew Barrymore, and Kat Von D started speaking out through docu-series, documentaries, podcasts, and news stories. These stories shined a spotlight on the industry and ramped up the pressure.

So starting around 2020, high-profile survivors like Paris Hilton, Drew Barrymore, and Kat Von D started speaking out through docu-series, documentaries, podcasts, and news stories. These stories shined a spotlight on the industry and ramped up the pressure.

I know, right? But then there was the tragic death of Cornelius Fredericks in a Michigan facility in April of 2020. Cornelius died after being restrained by several adults for over 10 minutes for throwing a sandwich. His death sparked outrage in the media and highlighted the fact that over 377 youth have died in these programs. The media finally started to pay attention.