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National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse
National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse
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NAASCA Highlights
EDITOR'S NOTE: Occasionally we bring you articles from local newspapers, web sites and other sources that constitute but a small percentage of the information available to those who are interested in the issues of child abuse and recovery from it.
We also present original articles we hope will inform the community ... |
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Laura Cowan |
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Interpersonal Violence
Laura’s Story
Lakewood, OH
by Laura Cowen
cowanl@cmha.net
The Ohio Department of Health's Violence and Injury Prevention Program is publishing a book which will be in print in August about interpersonal violence and they will be using my story along with other survivors.
The book will be placed in many agencies across the United States. |
I survived one of the most notorious domestic violence
abuse cases in recent history. The case, involving 19
victims, made headlines earning the abuser
seven life terms outrageous as it was, my story fits a typical pattern.
It’s a story strips victims of everything but the will to survive. I
had escaped relationship, now calling myself a survivor. I was raped,
beaten, stabbed abuser in a locked garage with my children
for over 6 months, a survivor of domestic violence, my three
children and I remember hopeless, desperate, confused, abused
and alone.
The children and I were deprived communication from family or friends.
Once badly malnourished, beaten garage, my son, Ahmed, who was
tortured the most, is now a strapping young man who recently
graduated from high school. He suffered
serious depression after his ordeal at hands of our abuser.
Ahmed went through
many years of therapy and medication for Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and severe
depression but managed to pull through high
school and is now attending college.
How did I escape? I was able to slip a letter that outlined, in detail, all the terror that
was happening to my family. The postal worker gave my letter to authorities and we
were rescued.
The Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Center (DVCAC) where I
now volunteer, has helped me to live a productive life beyond the abuse. In the process
of healing, the DVCAC has helped me and my children find strength in telling our story
to others, hoping to provide the type of insight and inspiration that can save lives.
Now a speaker, counselor and forceful advocate for abused women, I’ve come a
long way since my abuser was sentenced to seven life terms in prison. My quest is to
bring awareness to interpersonal violence.
I’m a volunteer at the DVCAC of Greater
Cleveland, a community activist, a domestic violence advocate and a survivor of domestic vioence.
I say to women now: You're not alone; never give up and there is help out there. You too can make it beyond abuse.
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