56. Lee Cooper: Part 1- A Child’s Life Devastated by His Own Father

Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS

Activation and discretion warning: this episode contains explicit and graphic descriptions of sexual assault and rape. Caution and action are required. This episode is not for children. Please use extreme discretion in listening to this episode and if you are activated or triggered and need help, call the national sexual assault telephone hotline at 1-800.656.hope; that’s 1-800-656-4673.

When you’re ten years old, and you wake up to having your genitals fondled by your own father, your childhood is demolished, and your life is instantly and forever changed. The hell of being the sexual and physical assault target of someone who is supposed to love and care for you, and who you thought you were able to trust, has devastating effects that impact every area of a child’s everyday life…and the devastation lasts until there is a healing catalyst. Even then, the devastation doesn’t go away overnight…sometimes, not at all.

For Lee, his healing finally started twenty years after his sexual victimization ended, when he read Dr. Bessel van der Kolk’s book, The Body Keeps the Score. But even now, ten years after Lee began his healing journey, Lee still feels the score that his body holds from the malevolent and torturous assault his father inflicted on him. And the impact is multifaceted, too. From horrific memories, to devastating personal relationships with girlfriends, his mother, and others, to financial impacts, and even feelings of anxiety and fear now, while sitting in his own bedroom. It will most likely impact Lee for the rest of his life.

But it’s not all horrific. Lee has his friends, his dreams and goals, and his photography business, all of which help Lee focus on the beauty of life. His picture taking is a particularly strong aspect of his healing. It takes him to glamorous, interesting, and challenging locations all over the world, provides him with new and fascinating friends, amazing photography targets, and the potential of financial opportunity. And his picture-taking abilities are exquisite. So much so in fact, that he has been invited to display his work at a prestigious, solo, three-month exhibit starting on December 9th of this year, and going through March 9th of 2024. The Oldham Gallery will feature Lee’s work. In a recent publication, the gallery boasted of Lee’s work this way: Oldham-born Lee Cooper has travelled the world capturing the mundane snippets of life in all their glory and wonder, through his photography. From Blackpool to Las Vegas, his work focuses on the moments of existential loneliness in the humdrum moments of life in a societal system that appears to be crumbling away.

If you’re anywhere near Oldham, England Dec. 9th thru March 9th, make the well-worth-it effort to go see Lee’s exhibit.

Be sure to tune in next week for Part 2 of Lee’s story. It’s the inspirational conclusion to this powerful, meaningful expression of Lee’s ability to overcome the horrors he endured. Until then, please remember to “like,” rate, and subscribe to Sexual Assault Survivor Stories. It will contribute to you doing your part to help bring justice to victims and survivors of rape and sexual assault. You can also do this when you Start By Believing, because we all know someone whose life has been affected by rape or sexual assault.

Please visit these links:

https://placesnowhere.com

Instagram: @coopscw

Instagram: @plcnowhere

https://markel-consulting.com

#thrivivors #thejanbrobergfoundation #janbroberg #safeinharmsway #epizonstrategy #intentionallyfearless #thelastimsorry #feelingsmall #sasspodcast #retiredcop #traumainformed #traumainformedexpert #sexassaultvictim #survivorsunite #rapevictim #retireddetective #sexualassaultsurvivorstories #podcast #markelconsulting #jessicapridelawfirm #supportsurvivors #mysurvivorstory #confidence #violenceprevention #awareness #boundaries #gettraumainformed#safeinharmsway #projectbeloved #saan #irishangel #crimevictimsassistancecenter #coloradoassociationofsexcrimeinvestigators #girlsfightback #outdoordefense #worthfightingfor #supportsurvivors #mysurvivorstory #confidence #violenceprevention #awareness #boundaries #empowerment #speaker #trainer #thejanbrobergshow #thrivivors #thejanbrobergfoundation #internationalspeaker #genderequality #equality #selfdefense #selfdefence #safety #youreworthfightingfor #sassyselfdefenseguide #ericbarreras #badassselfdefense #imworthfightingfor #vawa #baylor #ashforduniversity #uofaglobalcampus #psychologymajor #amandacoleman #remembermolly #fightrapeculture #forcescience