After five years as a victim of domestic violence, I took my nursing degree and decided to do something to help others. My personal life changed my professional life dramatically, forever. There are many stories of victims, perpetrators, their children, and the effect violence has on everyone involved. The red flags to be considered, obvious to me now I knew nothing about, could have saved me from being physically and emotionally abused. I know I am lucky to be alive!

At the time there was little to no available information to address this destructive social problem still plaguing our society. Considered "a family matter", it was illegal to beat your horse, you went to jail. But, you could beat your wife! Instead of ignoring the problem I decided to learn more about it and joined the first task force from Yale University to teach doctors, nurses, lawyers, judges, and police officers about the "cycle of violence". All the stories are true but have been altered, changing the names, to insure privacy.

Today we have many laws against "intimate partner relationships", as it is referred to today, but the problem still exists and continues to grow in numbers. Just recently, there was a case of murder/suicide of two young people in Florida who never should have died.

Carol, Jan