For the last three years, I've volunteered with Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands (STSM). STSM is a non-profit organization in Columbia, South Carolina that provides free services, such as counseling, legal advocacy, a 24-hour crisis hotline, and hospital accompaniment to survivors of sexual assault and abuse. I volunteer as a crisis advocate, which means I accompany survivors to the hospital and walk them through the evidence collection kit (more commonly known as the "rape kit") process. I also advocate on behalf of anything they need, such as asking a nurse for a warm blanket, or telling a police officer he or she needs to back off.

I usually have four to six shifts per month. This means for a period of nine to 12 hours, I am on call, and if anyone goes to any of the six hospitals, STSM sends advocates for a sexual assault case. STSM operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which means there is always a volunteer advocate on call. I've been called in at three in the morning, the middle of the day, or 15 minutes before my shift is over. Days that I'm on call, I hang out close to home, because if I get called in, I have to drop everything and get to the hospital as soon as I can.

When I get to the hospital, I try to get as much information about the survivor as I can before I meet him or her. If I can't get a ton of information, I always get the survivor's name. I knock on the door of his or her room, introduce myself, and say something along the lines of, "I'm with Sexual Trauma Services, and whenever something like this happens, someone from our organization comes to walk you through what is going to happen and answer any questions you may have. I'm so sorry this has happened to you, but I'm here for you for as long as you're here." I then explain to the survivor what happens during their time in the hospital. There are special types of nurses, known as SANEs (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners), who do the evidence collection kit. They operate on an on-call basis like we do, and if the SANE on call has another case, it could be hours before one of the SANE nurses can get to us. While we wait, this is when I try to build a rapport between the survivor and me. I usually gauge what to talk about based on the mood of the survivor. Sometimes he or she might be upset, and we just sit and hold hands. Sometimes survivors want to talk about what happened, other times the survivor will not appear upset, and we talk about things like our favorite movies or our pets.

Once the SANE arrives, the forensic interview and evidence collection process can begin. During what is known as the forensic interview, the SANE asks the survivor about medical history, and more personal questions like sexual history. This is important because if the survivor has had consensual sex recently, there could be DNA from the consensual encounter, and it's important for the SANE to know this before she begins the kit. After the history portion, the SANE will ask the survivor to describe, in as much detail as possible, what happened before, during, and after the assault. This is often more difficult for survivors than the evidence collection kit, as the survivor is telling a virtual stranger about one of the most traumatic things that has happened to him or her. During this part, I usually sit with the survivor to provide encouragement or a hand to squeeze. Once the forensic interview is complete, it's time for the evidence collection kit.

The evidence collection kit is similar to a gynecology exam*. The survivor puts on a hospital gown, and the SANE collects her clothing if she thinks there may be any DNA evidence on the clothes. STSM keeps clothing at each hospital we serve so the survivor has new clothes to wear if their clothes are collected for evidence purposes. The survivor then lays down on the exam table and places her feet in a set of stirrups. The SANE begins by checking for any injuries, and taking pictures if she sees an injury that could have occurred from the assault. She then takes multiple swabs from different areas of the survivor's genitals, and will also take swabs anywhere else on the body where there could be DNA evidence. This could include the survivor's mouth, breasts, hands, or stomach, depending on what happened during the assault. The process is generally the same for children, but the SANE will explain what will happen in simpler terms.

After the kit is complete, the process is almost over. The SANE will administer different types of medications to prevent/treat any possible STDs the survivor might have been exposed to during the assault. Plan B is also offered to the survivor. After the survivor has taken the necessary medications, he or she is discharged. I provide each survivor with a pamphlet called, "The Survivor's Handbook," which has information about sexual assault and the aftermath, and also all the services that STSM provides to them. If the survivor requests follow up, I will indicate this on the report I submit to STSM, and one of the counselors at the office will contact them to set up an appointment to come in.

After each call I take, I am required to fill out a very detailed form, whether the survivor wants follow up or not. The form includes all the survivor's basic information, information about the hospital, the case number the survivor is reporting to law enforcement, information about the assault, and what services or referrals STSM provided (such as clothing). After this, I have no further contact with the survivor. It's difficult not to know how the survivor is doing after his or her assault—I spend a lot of time bonding with each survivor, and I often wonder how they're coping. I rest easy knowing that the counselors at STSM are fantastic and the survivors I work with are in good hands.

This job is tough. It's emotionally taxing, time-consuming, and can be depressing. It's also extremely rewarding. I've had survivors hug me with tears in their eyes, thanking me for staying with them and holding their hand. I love what I do. To all the survivors out there: thank you for your bravery. You are loved more than you know.

For more information on sexual assault and abuse, or to find a crisis center near you, visit RAINN.org. If you need to talk to someone about an assault, please call their 24-hour hotline at 1-800-656-4673.

*Note: While sexual assault occurs to both male and females, I have only worked with female survivors, and can only speak to the evidence collection process as I've seen performed on females.