To summarize my story, I am {~age~}years old. I am one of 17 children, 13 boys and four girls, in my family. We lived in a three-bedroom shack where the rats ran wild. My first memory is of my mom and dad fighting. I was screaming in my crib. They wanted me to shut up, so they slammed my head. I woke up with the taste of blood in my mouth, and my ass was on fire. This was just the beginning. I was sexually abused for years by a friend of my parents. I felt alone. I started using drugs and alcohol at the age of eight. There is more that I am willing to share, but I hope this gives insight into how my life started, and I hope my story can help anyone never to give up no matter how hard you try.