After decades of keeping a painful secret, D. Wayne Coffey has stepped forward to tell the story of how an uncle sexually abused him for years beginning at age 5.
“No More Stolen Childhoods,” a newly released book by the Sacred Heart, Glyndon, parishioner, is an attempt to educate the public about child abuse and to protect the innocence of childhood, Mr. Coffey said.
“My goal is to raise the awareness of the devastation of childhood sexual abuse and to help those who have suffered abuse to start their journey of healing,” said Mr. Coffey, president of Coffey & Company, a Sparks-based insurance company.
“My story is a story of healing,” he said. “In spite of the travesty of childhood sexual abuse, with a strong faith and loving family you can overcome and be able to get back to the community.”
Mr. Coffey said his Catholic faith was a source of strength as he came to terms with his abuse. Monsignor G. Michael Schleupner, current pastor of St. Margaret in Bel Air, Father Raymond Chase of Catholic Charities and Monsignor Lloyd Aiken, pastor of Sacred Heart in Glyndon, have been “incredibly supportive” to Mr. Coffey and his family, the author said.
“Without my faith, I would not have survived,” Mr. Coffey said.
To order “No More Stolen Childhoods,” visit www.nomorestolenchildhoods.org. The book costs $10.