"My Daddy Is Hurting My Mommy" 6-Year-Old Girl Tells Teachers, Saving Her Mother's Life

Oct 31, 2018

When we think of "heroes," we usually think about first responders or burly soldiers. We think about people who risk their lives with professional acumen or imposing physicality. We think about people who protect those needier and weaker.

But even the needy and weak people can be heroes. One British 6-year-old girl illustrated this perfectly.

The girl, who has not been named by news agencies, is the daughter of Jodie Keegans. Jodie Keegans is a 36-year-old woman who lives in Doncaster, England. What was her daughter's act of heroism? Just talking to an adult.

In October of 2017, the girl walked over to her teacher in class and said the words that would change everything. She said her father was hurting her mother. Her mother says that she loves her father, but her father keeps hurting her anyway.

"Hurting" is a bit of an understatement regarding the torment Jodie went through. Be warned: This article is hard to read.

Keegans first met her husband when they were both at a club back in 2005. The relationship didn't start out bad. Jodie says it started out really well, with her husband Scott participating as a good father and partner. But, she says, he began to show escalating possessive behavior about three years ago.

He didn't want Jodie to talk to anyone. He kept interrogating the children to ask who Jodie had talked to that day. He would tell her she was lazy and tell the kids that their mother was useless.

It wasn't long before the actions moved past emotional abuse and into full-on physical abuse. He would stomp on her, punch her, and bite her. Some of the attacks caused serious damage. After one violent spat, Jodie's ear was torn, but Scott wouldn't allow her to get it treated at the hospital.

The intervention of their daughter changed everything. Police showed up on December 23, 2017. Scott fled from his home, at which point Jodie saw the opportunity to escape.

She said that after Scott left, she talked to the police about her injuries for the first time. She showed the officers the injuries Scott had given her and told them she thought she was a domestic abuse victim. Jodie says that moment was the first time she'd ever admitted out loud what was going on. It was the first time she'd ever asked for help.

Jodie was in the hospital for the following five days. Doctors were horrified by their findings. Her shoulder was broken, her internal organs were damaged, she had nine fractured ribs, and even half a dozen fractures in her spine.

Even though it was spent in the hospital, Jodie says it was the best Christmas she's ever experienced. She also says she's grateful for her child's bravery.

Jodie says support services first became involved thanks to the bravery of her daughter, and that her daughter truly did save her life. It's terrible to think what might have happened otherwise.

What do you think of this girl's bravery? Let us know in the comments and help this little girl and her mother spread awareness!