So, You Want to Hack Into My Uterus...

I've been waiting for my emotions to settle down and for a good spot of time where I could finally address this issue publicly.

I am so appreciative for the passion with which so many of you fight for my privacy. I notice personal photos and links taken down from fan forums and blogs ALL THE TIME because you guys police them to protect me. It makes me feel like I have the best fans in the world (and lucky to even HAVE fans in the first place-- what a privilege). Thank you!

Well, it's no secret now that Michael and I are expecting a baby. That is not an easy thing for me to share, because I'm quite introverted and the idea of people I don't know (however friendly and dedicated) being included on intimate details of my life is extremely uncomfortable for me, especially when it's something as tender and fragile as a little life that looks to me for protection.

However, I share this with you now because, as many of you know, our private "Baby Galeotti" announcement which included photos of me receiving my ultrasound and copies of our sonogram pictures, was stolen by a hacker and posted for the public. Devastating though this was and certainly a rape of privacy and intimate moments between my husband and me and our family-- I know that something good can come from this...

Many of you are tenacious in your disgust for the person who did this. I'm grateful for your hearts of protection! It blesses me so much. But I want to encourage you all to approach this from a different perspective now. I would ask that you have pity on the person who did this. They are suffering. They have been mistreated, ignored and abused and they believe they are worthless and therefore seek to destroy anything that, to them, has value. So, instead of anger or disgust, please pray for this person to know the truth about how loved and valuable they are. I want this person to be flooded with good things, to be surrounded by the kindness of strangers, to finally feel noticed and loved. You might call me crazy and, believe me, at first I wanted to find them and sick my army of Galeotti boys on them! But those were just my initial emotions. The more I've thought about this, the more I believe what I'm telling you all... I truly have a newfound compassion for Person X (and anyone who reposted with disregard or malicious intent). And, damnit, it makes ME feel better not to be stressed and angry!

Also, there is so much that needs to be changed in the legal realm of the internet, that people who steal & post private material cannot realistically be prosecuted, currently. These laws cannot upgrade and change without unfortunate things like this happening. So, if you feel inclined, write a letter to your congressman/woman explaining what has happened here and encouraging them to start a path toward change.

On another note, this personal invasion on my family and my child has made me even more passionate about the abuse happening to young children every day who are trafficked and violated in unspeakable ways. To whatever degree you were horrified by the violation of someone stealing and exposing my personal medical information, intimate photos of our private ultrasound and the precious first photos of my unborn baby-- it's NOTHING compared to the horror of the physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological violation of trafficked children.

I've noticed that many of you were so outraged that you've been looking for an outlet-- a way to turn this around, somehow. It has come to my attention that a few of you took it upon yourselves to start a hashtag campaign on Twitter with proceeds toward LOVE146.

You are amazing.

This is more than I could have dreamed! What an incredible response. I want to help and I'm working on something to that end right now. Updates in a few days, I hope!

Thanks again to everyone who stands up for what's right. Good on you!

xo

Joy