AURORA, Colo. -- The stigma of child abuse can often stop victims and families from reaching out for help. For those who do though, it can be life changing. Jackeline Maldonado, 18, is a thriving college student who's now free from a terrible secret that, she says, took away her childhood.

"I was abused sexually since I was 12 by my stepfather, and it went on for five years," Maldonado said.

In her case, it wasn't threats or intimidation that caused her to hide the sexual abuse, but rather the opposite.

"I guess for me, I needed love, and since that was a way I could get love from him, I wouldn't have wanted that to go away," Maldonado said. "Because no one else would have loved me, I felt."

She eventually told a family member about the abuse, which led to her stepfather's conviction, and sentence of 30 years behind bars.

"It was kind of a relief, it was like I was hiding for so long, embarrassed for what was happening," Maldonado said.

"The community has to be vigilant, has to pay attention to it," said Jesse Wolff, president and CEO of the Kempe Foundation. "Child abuse and neglect can happen anywhere, to anybody,"

A turning point in Maldonado recovery was going to the Kempe Center for counseling, where she realized the abuse was not her fault.

"There can be some really great outcomes and some success stories," Wolff said. "So if kids and families get access to the right treatment at the right time, there can be some very positive outcomes."

For Maldonado, that means channeling her experience into a future career as a therapist and victim's advocate.

"I go back and bad things go in my head about what happened, but, you know I always try to look at the happiness in life," Maldonado said. "I mean you only live once right?"

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and you can find more resources about prevention and treatment by visiting www.kempe.org