Damaged: The Heartbreaking True Story of a Forgotten Child by Cathy Glass

A deeply moving story of how one foster carer's profound patience and love unlocked a little girl's darkest, most painful secrets.

Cathy Glass had fostered fifty children over twenty years but noneof them had been as disturbed as Jodie, a troubled eight-year-old whose violence and agression had seen off five foster carers in just four months.

When Jodie arrived, Cathy had no idea what lay beneath Jodie's shocking behaviour, which included smearing faeces all over the house, erupting into violent rages and even cutting herself. Little by litte, as Jodie's rage was met with patience and understanding, she began to trust Cathy, and to confide the dreadful background which had led to her present torment.

Jodie's childhood had been an appalling litany of mistreatment and neglect, which should have alerted the numerous social work professionals involved with her case. Jodie's case file was so big it filled two suitcases, but apparently not one of her social workers had ever read the entire file. If they had, Jodie's story and her future might have been very different. Finally, in Cathy, Jodie found one adult worthy of her trust, one who could help her begin the process of recovery.

Cathy Glass, who writes under a psuedonym, has been a foster carer for more than twenty years. She has three children.