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Susannah Birch | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Susannah Michelle Andrew 14 May 1986 Adelaide, South Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Digital Marketing |
| Television | |
| Website | www |
Susannah Birch is an Australian trauma survivor, activist, blogger, and social media personality.[1][2]
Early life edit
Birch was born in Adelaide, South Australia. Her family moved to Dalby, Queensland, when she was an infant, and later to Toowoomba, Queensland.[3][4][5]
Childhood attack edit
In 1989, when Birch was two years old, her throat was cut with a knife by her mother during a psychotic episode.[2] She was rushed to the Dalby hospital where she had life saving surgery and a tracheostomy tube placed in her throat.[6] She was then transferred to Queensland Children's Hospital.[3] In 2000, Birch had the tracheostomy tube removed, although she still has paralysed vocal cords.[7][8]
Teen catfishing edit
When Susannah was 15, she met a boy in a teen chatroom who claimed to be 17 years old.[9][10] They dated online for three years, and continued talking platonically for a further nine years.[11] In 2014, Birch discovered the man’s true identity. She has never revealed his name, but during a 2015 episode of A Current Affair, he was revealed to be a 62-year-old university teacher.[12]
Media edit
In 2014, Birch worked with journalist Amanda Gearing on a radio documentary about her childhood attack, which was later released on ABC Radio National and helped her story gain international attention.[7]
In 2015, Birch worked with A Current Affair to release a story about the man who catfished her for 12 years.
Upcoming book and film edit
Birch has a book currently in writing which has been turned into a film script. In 2020, the film script came first in the Australian International Screenwriting Awards.[13]
| Year | Media | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | ABC Radio National | Special guest |
| 2017 | A Current Affair (Australian TV program) | Featured Story |
| 2022 | SBS Insight (Australian TV program) | Special guest |
References edit
- ^ Meyer, Sherrey (2015-02-19). "Forgiveness by Susannah Birch". Life in the Slow Lane. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ a b "A living sacrifice". ABC listen. 2014-04-13. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ a b Madigan, Nicole. "'Mum cut my throat': Toowoomba toddler's shock confession". The Courier Mail.
- ^ Martin, Sami K. (2014-04-14). "Mother Slit Daughter's Throat in Old Testament Sacrifice: 'I Remember the Knife,' Recalls Susanna Birch". The Christian Post. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ "'My mother cut my throat and then prepared to roast me in the oven'". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ Birch, Susannah (2019-05-25). "'My mum attacked me when I was two. For years I was terrified I would harm my own children.'". Mamamia. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ a b Gearing, Amanda. "Susannah Birch talks about her throat being slit by her mother when she was a baby". The Courier Mail.
- ^ Madigan, Nicole (July 14, 2019). "'Mum cut my throat': Toddler's shocking dinner-table confession". News.com.au. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
- ^ "'His own son': 'Sickening' true identity of girl's 'teen' lover". NZ Herald. 2023-10-16. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ Dale, Amy (2020). "The lure of the law: Should catfishing be a crime?". Law Society Journal (67): 30–35 – via LSJ: Law Society Journal.
- ^ "Catfishing: 'My relationship of 12 years was all a lie'". SBS News. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ Katz, Emily (24 Jul 2015). "This Woman Was Catfished For 12 Years". HuffPost.
- ^ Cutler, Michelle (Nov 2018). "A Living Sacrifice (My Daughter, Susannah) Screenplay & Podcast".
External links edit