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While asleep in bed next to her four year-old son, Jasmine was accosted by an unknown man who handcuffed, blindfolded, and kidnapped her at gunpoint, threatening to kill her if she did not cooperate. The kidnapper drove her to an unknown location, raped her, and then--miraculously--drove her back to her home within a few hours’ time. The man warned Jasmine that if she called the police he would return and kill both her and her son.
Jasmine called the police immediately after her attacker left. After the police arrived, she was taken by paramedics to the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner’s (SANE) unit at the hospital. There, Jasmine was counseled and physically examined. She was given various antibiotics and preventative treatments against STDs. Jasmine was also informed about and given emergency contraception. A detective also came to question her about the case.
Jasmine felt very fortunate to have been taken to a place like the SANE unit. She was especially grateful that anti-STD treatments and emergency contraception were available and provided for her. Knowing the emotional difficulties that she has faced since the attack, Jasmine cannot imagine how much worse it could have been if she had to deal with an unwanted pregnancy.
Jasmine believes that her recovery from the attack has been easier because she has not had to cope with what she calls “residual effects”--having to recover from serious injury, an STD, or a pregnancy. Based on her experience, Jasmine fully supports EC becoming available to all women who survive sexual assault.
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