My Story

As a survivor and advocate, I understand the harrowing path of domestic violence due to my firsthand experience. the abuser's daily physical, emotional, verbal and Psychological abuse scarred my life. His unpredictability and dangerous tendencies made me fear for my life and my youngest daughter, who was six years old when I met him, and for my older children. This ongoing cycle of violence traumatized us, with lasting impact.

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For over a year, I endured unimaginable abuse again, hiding bruises and terror to protect my youngest daughter until she witnessed it. Isolated and paralyzed by fear, shame, and uncertainty, I lived with the constant threat of death, arson, and harm to loved ones.

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Seeking help, I faced many obstacles, including full shelters and limited support. After nearly a year of struggle and repeatedly calling different organizations, I found safety in another city's shelter. With help from Boston's Children's Hospital, Boston DV detectives, DA'S, court advocates, and legal action, I testified against the abuser, but he returned to the streets three years later. The ordeal forced me to uproot my life, transfer my daughter to another school, and abandon my 2006 nonprofit dreams. Despite moving multiple times and starting over, I found peace in my faith and healing through counseling and family. Sadly, many survivors never escape, and too many lives are taken by the abusers.

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I lived in survival mode for a long time, unable to trust people, especially those who are untrustworthy. After leaving the abuser, self-doubt, anxiety, fear, panic attacks and flashbacks still lingered. I made the personal decision to take ownership of my lifelong journey toward healing, safety and recovery, understanding and recognizing my voice, self worth, self love, setting boundaries, values, faith, purpose, goals, and abusive, toxic people and environments, healthy and unhealthy relationships and learning their impact on survivors, our children and families.

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Trusting God has helped me persevere as a person, mother, founder and advocate of Scars Into Stars, despite experiencing cycles of abuse that impacted my faith, safety and well-being.

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Too often, when I share my experience of abuse, healing, goals, or networking with others, there have been many critics or people who are desensitized to abuse. As I intentionally turned my pain into purpose by using my faith and hope to form SIS, help other survivors, and spread awareness, some said, 'If you don't raise money soon, maybe you should just give up and go work for another agency.' It never ceases to amaze me how some people will say and do things to discourage and hinder you from shining and soaring while they shine and soar.

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