1953 - 1954

PAUL McLAUGHLIN, THE FOUNDER OF 'HELP STOP CHILD ABUSE,' HAD SPOKEN OF HIS STORY AND OF HIS WORKS NOT ONLY AT FORUMS OR PUBLIC SPEAKINGS, SCHOOL FUNCTIONS, BUT ALSO ON 20 RADIO TALK PROGRAM IN PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA. FLORIDA, IDAHO, WASHINGTON STATE. SALEM, SPRINGFIELD, EUGENE AND PORTLAND, OREGON.

THIS SHORT HISTORY IS A EXAMPLE OF A SURVIVOR WHO HAS NOT ONLY SPEW WORDS FROM TONGUE BECAUSE OF PAST CHILDHOOD SUFFERING ALSO A EXAMPLE OF A ONE SURVIVOR WHO BELIEVE IN WORK BY THE HAND TO HEAL SELF AND BY WORKS BY THE HAND TO SAVE ABUSED CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITIES.

PAUL McLAUGHLIN ENCOURAGE ALL SURVIVORS TO NOT ONLY SPEAK OUT OF THE ABUSE BUT ALSO TO EDUCATE YOUR COMMUNITY OF THE 'BEFORE-DURING-AFTER' AFFECT OF ABUSE. NOT TO REPEAT THE SAME BEHAVIOR YOU WERE TAUGHT.

LEARN TO BE A SURVIVOR AS TO NOT ABUSE YOURSELF, THE COMMUNITY, AND PEOPLE. NOT TO ABUSE DRUGS, ALCOHOL, GANGS, DISRESPECT PEOPLE, REPEAT ABUSE ON CHILDREN.

SHOW CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY TO BE A POSITIVE LEADER AND NOT A NEGATIVE FOLLOWER

On October 13, 1948, Paul Marvin McLaughlin was born along with his twin sister Paula Marlene McLaughlin at North Charleroi, Pennsylvania Hospital. He spent his youth in the samll town of Donora, Pennsylvania. Donora is about 45 minutes drive from southeast of Pittsburgh.

Donora was a steel town, like most of the small communities tucked into the valley along Pennsylvania's Monongahela River.

Belle Vernon, Charleroi, Fayette City, Fineleyville, Mckeesport, Monessen, Monongahela, West Newton.

It was in Donora, that Paul and Paula's life began. They both were severely tormented and abused for 18 years. Beaten and tormented on an almost daily bases. Paul explains that he and Paula did everything the same. "We even felt each other's pain in ways that can't be explained."

LOCATION

Paul and his family lived at 700 Castner Avenue in Donora, directly across the sixth street grade school. The old three story house sat near two large water tank enclosed with cyclone fense.

ABOUT 1980s - THE HOUSE BURN DOWN AND SCHOOL TORN DOWN.

The house was heated with nothing more than a coal furnace. The house was very old and the wallpaper had to be replaced every so often.

As entering the front door the stairs leads to the second floor. On the left side of top stairs is a door that leads to the bed room and on the right side on top of the stairs is another door that leads to the living room, kitchen and bathroom.

There was only one large bedroom where they all slept and there were only two large beds that they had to share, or they would sleep on the sofa or floor. There was only one bathroom with one sink and no bathtub, so they had to take sponge baths in the kitchen sink. The parents on welfare.

WARNING - TYPES OF ABUSE - WARNING

Paul almost died at one month old (birth) and again at age three

Paul describes horrendous treatment at the hands of his mother. He and Paula would be put on top of a warm gas stove burner with no clothes on and recieved first and second degree burn.

Not allowed to see medical doctor. Paul said their fingers would be bent backwards, and if they screamed or cried, their mother would continue to do it more.

Clothes removed and held down and beaten with a belt or stick and he passed out from severe pain.

Stand in corner of the room for long hours without rest, sleep and no food.

Forced to go to toilet on command and if not go than the enema treatment is given that you not want to know about. Taken up into the attic and choked with rope around the neck. Paul say he almost passed out after seeing stars.

Paul and Paula were forced fed their own feces, vomit, hot black pepper. They were forced to eat laundry detergent or small pieces of bar soap in their food.

They were both beaten with a stick and belt almost daily, and bear scars from the same. Paul was once struck in the head with his mother's spiked heel shoe.

When Paul and Paula played with their toys, their mother would break them, and then tell their dad that they had broken them. Their dad would slap them.

On Easter, they were forced to eat all their candy at once. Received a handful of toys while the other siblings got many beautiful gifts. They knew they were un-wanted in the family.

They were made to stand in the snow without shoes. They were tied up. They were beaten with wire hangers, and Paul's mother would throw him on the bed, put a pillow over his face and sit on his face.

Paul was hospitalized twice during his childhood, and almost died both times.

Paul says that the list of horrible acts committed against them by their mother is endless. His siblings weren't abused, and to this day, Paul doesn't understand why. Paul's older siblings are 5 to 6 years older in age.

The older siblings were strictly abused by the father. The mother did not abuse the older siblings. The older siblings were not tormented or severly abused as the twins were. They seen Paul and Paula in suffering way and not went out to seek help.

THE REASON FOR THE ABUSE

The mother have a mental mind of a 15-year-old child. She played around with other men and accident got pregnant with the twins.

The man who helped raise the siblings is not the father of the twin. The real father is the man's brother which is the twins Uncle.

Mother and Father were NOT abused as they were growing up in childhood. NO HISTORY OF ABUSE IN THE FAMILY TREE.

From 1955 to 1964 Paul was put into SPECIAL EDUCATION at CASTNER SCHOOL having been declared a slow learner.

In 1964, SPECIAL EDUCATION children were taken out of SPECIAL EDUCATION and was transfer to Donora Junior and Donora Senior high school.

Teachers given passing grades to SPECIAL EDUCATION students so the handicapped children can recieve their diploma.

In 1970, Paul graduated from Donora High School at the age of 21.

Paula, graduated from high school three years earlier.

In 1970 - After three attempts, Paul finally passed his written test to enter the military. PAUL WAS GIVEN HELP TO PASS WRITTEN EXAMINATION.

In 1970 while stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey, Paul began to tell his story while in basic training. It was there that someone said to him, "Instead of talking about it, why don't you do something about it?"

Since 1994 on computer Paul is trying to find 'JJ' (John Johnson or Johnston). Last seen 'JJ' in 1970 - 2nd Bat; 34th Art. - at Fort Lewis, Washington.

In 1972, while stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, Paul volunteered for the Honor Guard, and travelled around the country participating in the funerals of military veterans, most from the Vietnam war. His fired an M-1 rifle as part of the 21-gun salute. That same year, Paul got an honorable discharge and moved to Portland, Oregon.

Paul lived in Portland, Oregon and continued to tell his childhood story.

In 1975, at the age of 26, Paul wrote a 40-page booklet and tried to get it published. The booklet is not well written.

In that same year Paul began his street campaign of sign holding,"Help stop Child Abuse," in Tacoma, Seattle, Vancouver, Washington and Portland, Oregon.

Paul and his wife made trips to Washington, DC and Donora, Pennsylvania. Paul began his one-man campaign on child abuse. Many laughed at him, but that didn't discourage Paul....he continued his crusade.

PEOPLE DISCOVERED PAUL

IN 1975 DURING ONE OF PAUL'S VOLUNTEER WORK AT THE HOMELESS SHELTER SOME PEOPLE WERE CURIOUS OF WHY OF HIS WORKS. PAUL TOLD ABOUT HIS CHILDHOOD LIFE.

PEOPLE AT A NON-PROFIT CHILDREN ORGANIZATION IN PORTLAND TAUGHT PAUL TO READ, SPELLING, WRITTING AND TYPING ON NON-ELECTRIC TYPING MACHINE. THESE PEOPLE SAID TO PAUL: 'YOU WILL TELL YOUR STORY.'

Paul already know how to read and write but not all that well.

In 1975, Paul went door to door for the Cancer Society and also passed out educational literature on child abuse. Literature on things like "What to look for in Child Abuse." He worked on the street for the homeless and for children who were abused.

During the fund-raising, Paul had the opportunity to tell his story. He referred children who needed help with addiction to agencies specializing in alcohol and drug abuse, and he helped those who were homeless or victims of child abuse.

In 1978, Paul first appeared on the KGW radio in Portland, a live call in talk show.

In 1980, Paul did another talk show, where he told his story and got great response from listeners regarding his campaign on child abuse. Paul also appeared at Franklin High School in Portland and Battle Ground High School in Vancouver, Washington to tell his story and talk about his one-man campaign for the children.

From 1975 to 1990 - many fund raising. Helped created children program along with those who are specialist on child abuse issue.

In 1990, Paul moved to Eugene, Oregon and in 1992, "The Child Abuse Man Story" was published in the Eugene Register-Guard newspaper.

He also did a Television commercial, an open forum at North Eugene High School, worked with the Children First For Oregon Campaign and KPNW Radio raising funds for "SCAR", a home for abused children in Jasper, Oregon.

Paul has also worked along with Birth To Three, Looking Glass, Relief Nursery, Children Sevices Division, and many other local programs for children through out Washington and Oregon.

Since 1975, Paul has done more than 12 open forums in Oregon and Washington and more than 20 radio programs on his story. Two magazine articles and unknown number of newspaper articles across the country.

This is just an example and can't reveal all details.

"Our children are our future, but their well-being in our society continues to decline. The health and safety of our children is everyone's responsibility.

Please help to ensure healthy, safe children and families in our community by taking action as an individual, group, or business." (c) Written by Paul and Elizabeth McLaughlin for a child abuse forum at North Eugene high school in Eugene, Oregon.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT 'THE PAUL McLAUGHLIN STORY' PLEASE SEE MAIN WEB SITE.

Many have said, "If Paul Can Do It, We All Can Do It."

PAUL WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM SURVIVORS AND TELL OF YOUR WORKS IN YOUR COMMUNITY. SURVIVORS AND HANDICAPPED WHO ADVOCATE ON THE ISSUE OF CHILD ABUSE.

Paul encourages others to tell their stories by contacting him either by mail or by email.