Photo credit: Kelly Ann Shuler
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"I’m a survivor. My son didn’t survive--he was murdered November 19, 2014. That was the worst day of my life. The reason I say I’m a survivor is that I didn’t go into depression. I didn’t lose my mind. I had to think of my other children and my grandchildren, and I had to pull it together. It is only by the grace of God that I’m standing here today. I thank God for Victim Witness because I was clueless... I’m just so thankful. I was a single mother trying to do my best raising my kids so they would have a better life and I could support them and they wouldn’t have to turn to the streets to do anything. Then when I got that call that my son had been shot... I already knew in my heart because I’m a mom--he was gone. I knew it before I even got to the hospital. There’s a lot of days that I still cry and I will probably continue to cry until I go to my grave, but if I could encourage another family that has to go through this... you’ve got to forgive them in order to move forward, and I had to forgive them... I know I have to answer to God one day, so I had to find forgiveness, and I do forgive them. Life must go on. I’m thankful that you guys do this. Sometimes we do need that person to talk to… I didn’t have that outlet, and if you guys give people that outlet and someone to talk to, it just makes a difference. I appreciate everything you’ve done. I’m grateful and I’m thankful. You guys do an awesome job. Keep doing what you’re doing, because we families need this, we really do."
-- Michelle, mother of homicide victim |
Photo credit: Kelly Ann Shuler
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"I was so glad for all the help that I got... [One of the PFA coordinators] said, “Well, think about it this way… you can either leave and have it be worse, be the same thing that you said it’s going to be every day, or we can help you.” I didn’t really believe it—I never thought anyone could get me away from him. It’s still hard, very hard… but I’m very glad for all of the help that I have gotten through the group. Sometimes the legal system sucks. I blamed myself many years, thinking it was me… the house wasn’t clean enough, I’m not doing enough laundry, I’m not doing enough cooking, I’m not taking care of enough things, even though I was going to work full time, taking the boys to practice, making dinner, doing laundry every single day to the point where I had a stroke. I just couldn’t believe having a stroke at 29. I didn’t have much faith in cops. Any interaction I had with them was because they got called to the house because he was hitting me and I was screaming, and they would leave. I don’t blame the cops for leaving, because I told them it was just me overreacting, it was always me… I always prayed and hoped that they would come back…. but I had to make that step. I went into the courthouse and made that step, two weeks later, and got my PFA… I’ve always had the girls [at Victim Witness] to lean on. I’m glad for the help that there is because it is really, really hard, and the last thing I want is for my boys to end up like him. I want them to respect women and be my little gentlemen. They helped me to rebuild my life again because all I left with was our clothes. They helped me to get my life back together."
--Michelle, domestic violence survivor |
Photo credit: Kelly Ann Shuler
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"My daughter was assaulted and left to die, but thank God, by the grace of God, she’s doing very well, and she’s dealing with lots of things… the Victim Witness Assistance Program helped us get through that, big time. We went to counseling… after what happened, I hadn’t talked to anyone about it. I’ve cried silently, but actually speaking to someone about what had happened to us, my daughter, our family… I didn’t know that I was going to still cry… I hate crying! That was a relief to share with Jessica and she was just so awesome… for her to be able to be so compassionate and to listen, to be there for me when I just need to let it go… I appreciate Victim Witness Assistance Program and all the other agencies that helped us along through the courts. Going through this devastating experience in dealing with a child that has been assaulted had broken our whole family. The agencies helped us in an awesome way. We have a service that if you need to speak out, if you need to talk about it, Victim Witness is the place to go. You guys helped us so much. I didn’t think I’d ever speak about the different things that I’ve been through, or my family… but I think it’s healing, little bits at a time."
--Andrea, mother of attempted homicide survivor |