The nightly routine of that family seemed normal to anyone on the outside. The girl, only eight years old, went to bed hugging her favorite doll, while her father tucked her in with a forced smile that hid his worry. Because every night, at the same time, the tranquility would be shattered by his daughter’s terrified cries.
“Please, no! It hurts!” she would scream, tossing and turning, trapped in a world of her own fears. Her father, David, would rush to her side, holding her close until the cries subsided and she returned to a restless sleep. This had become their routine—a cycle of fear and helplessness.
