by Michael Broussard

On February 1st, 2025 on Zoom I will be presenting my solo play about healing from childhood trauma, including the role Doctor Who played in that journey. You can get free tickets for that performance at survivorplay.eventbrite.com.

It is no exaggeration to say Doctor Who saved my life. In the late 1970s I felt utterly alone, isolated, trapped in complex PTSD from years of abuse. But that all changed when I discovered Doctor Who, and subsequently, Doctor Who fandom.

To understand why this did so much for my healing, it is important to understand that the Doctor saves people. The Doctor stands up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. And most importantly, the Doctor vanquishes monsters. My life was filled with very real monsters, from the stepfather who sexually abused me for several years in early childhood, to the mother who still was verbally and violently abusing me every day.

I would turn on the TV and watch this amazing alien from the planet Gallifrey use wit, charm, ingenuity, and sometimes even a little Venusian aikido, to put the monsters in their place. Whether that Doctor wore a velvet smoking jacket and a flowing cape, a floppy hat and an impossibly long scarf, or a coat of highly contrasting colors and a cat pin, the common traits were a strong sense of justice and a dedication to protecting the vulnerable.

When I first discovered the show I was completely isolated, too damaged to go out and make friends. I spent most of my time alone in my room. But I was eventually coaxed out by the opportunity to meet my hero at a convention. I was still very shy and hardly spoke while waiting in line for an autograph from the Fourth Doctor, actor Tom Baker. But as I attended more conventions, I opened up, delighted to find friends who shared my interests.

That was the beginning of a journey that led to founding a Doctor Who fan club, supporting the show by appearing on PBS pledge drives (the show was on PBS back then), and meeting fans from all around the country. It even brought me to a fan who listened to my survivor story and offered understanding and support.

All of this is chronicled in my play, including the fact that Doctor Who has come back again and again in my life to offer healing in all kinds of ways, up to and including today.

I hope you will be there to hear my story, share in my healing, and celebrate the power of a little British sci-fi show called Doctor Who.

Again, the date is Saturday, February 1st, it’s happening on Zoom, and you can get free tickets at survivorplay.eventbrite.com.

We are seeking visual artists, speakers, storytellers, musicians, and other performing artists for a free event in Philadelphia co-sponsored by the North Carolina based arts community Survivor Knights and Ask A Sex Abuse Survivor.

Survivors of any kind of trauma, abuse, medical condition, or any other life challenge, are invited to display their visual art and/or to perform at Survivor Knights Philadelphia, Sunday afternoon, March 24th, 2019 at the Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street in Philadelphia. For driving and public transit directions to the Rotunda visit sexabusesurvivor.com/rotunda.

To participate, send photos of your visual art or audio/video of your story, poetry, music, performance piece, etc to [email protected]. We will be accepting submissions until February 28th, 2019. Audio and video does not need to be professional quality. We just want to see/hear your work.

The Survivor Knights community is the brainchild of survivor and advocate Brian Cardoza, who is also the founder of the Broken Knee Club, a support and advocacy organization working to raise awareness about childhood sexual abuse.

We look forward to showcasing your visual and performance art. Only together can we survive. Your darkest moments may be the light to another.

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We are seeking visual artists, speakers, storytellers, musicians, and other performing artists for a free event in Philadelphia co-sponsored by the North Carolina based arts community Survivor Knights and Ask A Sex Abuse Survivor.

Survivors of any kind of trauma, abuse, medical condition, or any other life challenge, are invited to display their visual art and/or to perform at Survivor Knights Philadelphia, Sunday afternoon, March 25th, 2018 at the Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street in Philadelphia. For driving and public transit directions to the Rotunda visit sexabusesurvivor.com/rotunda.

To participate, send photos of your visual art or audio/video of your story, poetry, music, performance piece, etc to [email protected]. We will be accepting submissions until February 28th, 2018. Audio and video does not need to be professional quality. We just want to see/hear your work.

The Survivor Knights community is the brainchild of survivor and advocate Brian Cardoza, who is also the founder of the Broken Knee Club, a support and advocacy organization working to raise awareness about childhood sexual abuse.

We look forward to showcasing your visual and performance art. Only together can we survive. Your darkest moments may be the light to another.

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Artwork by Tiffani Dean – Photo by Jody Austin

The mutual support and love demonstrated by survivors of all kinds at the free event Survivor Knights Philadelphia on Saturday, January 21st was truly beautiful. Artists, speakers and poets gathered at the Rotunda on Walnut Street in University City to share their experiences on canvas and onstage.

As people walked around the space taking in the powerful imagery from artists Charlene Lutz (Muse Gallery), Brian Cardoza (The Broken Knee Club and Survivor Knights), Kathleen Mosher (MsMoArt), Mariellen Cressman, Jody Austin aka TruStory (CEO/President The Collective Mic, LLC), and Tiffani Dean aka La Diva Noire (COO/vice-President The Collective Mic, LLC), deep conversations could be heard in every corner about what it means to survive and how survivors can care for one another.

Later in the afternoon the speakers took the stage and filled the room with a hopeful cry for understanding. Inspiring words from Zahra Diallo, Michael Broussard (author and performer of the one man interactive play Ask A Sex Abuse Survivor), Bonnell Williams, Kellie Springer (author of Relentless: A Journey of Forgiveness), Brian Cardoza (author of The Unexpected Victim), Edna J. White (author of Stuff!: Giving the Secret a Voice), Jody Austin, and Tiffani Dean elicited frequent and enthusiastic applause.

As the event wound down people could be heard making plans for the next one, and the next one after that.

Ask A Sex Abuse Survivor would like to thank Survivor Knights founder Brian Cardoza for giving us the opportunity to host this amazing event.

Thanks also go out to the following, for their invaluable assistance: Rotunda Director Gina Renzi, Rotunda Intern Andrew Simpson, audio tech Styx Latte, and volunteer Jennifer Cutler.

If you are interested in hosting a Survivor Knights event in your area, please contact Brian Cardoza at [email protected] or visit www.brokenkneeclub.org or www.facebook.com/SurvivorKnights.

The next Survivor Knights event will be Chasing Immortality on Saturday, January 28th at the New Bern Civic Theatre in New Bern, North Carolina.

On Saturday, January 21st, 2017 at the Rotunda in Philadelphia survivors of all kinds will share their visual art and stories at a free event designed to bring the community together in mutual support. Complete details below.

The event is co-sponsored by the North Carolina based arts community Survivor Knights and Ask A Sex Abuse Survivor.

The Survivor Knights community is the brainchild of survivor and advocate Brian Cardoza, who is also the founder of the Broken Knee Club, a support and advocacy organization working to raise awareness about childhood sexual abuse.

Come out and meet your fellow survivors.

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