1 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: Hey guys, it's shagarra Ebine here, and before we begin 2 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: this week's episode, I just want to give you all 3 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: a heads up. This episode contains discussions about sensitive subjects 4 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:24,639 Speaker 1: that may be difficult for some listeners, including topics such 5 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 1: as violence and abuse. We want to ensure our audience 6 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 1: is aware of the nature of these discussions and encourage 7 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:37,280 Speaker 1: you all to prioritize your well being. Listener discretion is advised, 8 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:41,400 Speaker 1: and if you find these topics challenging, please please please 9 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:46,600 Speaker 1: take the necessary steps to prioritize your mental health. Until 10 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 1: next time, everyone, love you deep and take care of yourselves. 11 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 1: In this week's episode, my incredible guest shares her journey 12 00:00:56,560 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 1: overcoming a traumatic chapter in her life tries to kill her. 13 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 1: We explore how society perceives survivors of domestic abuse, the 14 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: profound impact of witnessing violence during her childhood, and her 15 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:15,319 Speaker 1: insights on the path to recovery in the aftermath, including 16 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:19,040 Speaker 1: her dedication to sharing her story to help others. This 17 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:23,199 Speaker 1: episode is the epitome of our model Tough times don't last, 18 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 1: but professional homegirls do. My ex fiance tried to kill 19 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: me starting now, so thank you so much for being 20 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 1: a guest on the show. So to my guests, how 21 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 1: you doing? How you feeling? 22 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:38,839 Speaker 2: I'm good? How are you pretty good? Pretty good? 23 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:40,120 Speaker 1: I feel like you're not nervous? 24 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 2: No more, No, it comes off pretty like quickly. 25 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:46,040 Speaker 3: I go off to energies and it's like the energy 26 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:47,919 Speaker 3: is okay, my nerves kind of go away. 27 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 2: I got good energy, right, you have great energy? 28 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 1: Okay, come on now, my fellow Aquarius. 29 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 2: Sister, a quarious sister, I love it. 30 00:01:56,320 --> 00:02:00,120 Speaker 1: Yes, So what made you decide to share your experiences 31 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:01,920 Speaker 1: with others and dealing with violence? 32 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:08,240 Speaker 3: So what really made me decide to speak on it 33 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 3: was the fact that so many victims of domestic violence 34 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 3: stay And I figured like if I started like outreaching 35 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 3: and doing community work and speaking openly about it, I 36 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:24,399 Speaker 3: would be able to help other survivors, other victims, and 37 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 3: other individuals who have just had similar stories experiences be 38 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 3: able to speak about it. 39 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 1: And do you think public awareness and educational domestic abuse 40 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:36,799 Speaker 1: evolved in recent years? 41 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 2: I do. 42 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 3: It has definitely evolved, not at the speed I would 43 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 3: like for it, but I involved somewhat. I still feel 44 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:50,880 Speaker 3: like I believe it's over thirty thousand people a year. 45 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:52,520 Speaker 2: They're murdered. 46 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:56,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, or spouses, And it's crazy. The number is like 47 00:02:57,120 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 3: really large. I mean I could be off by some 48 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 3: that's like as maybe I don't know the exact numbers 49 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 3: so that on it, but I do know that it 50 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:09,600 Speaker 3: is a big number. It's extreme and it's terrifying. So 51 00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:12,640 Speaker 3: the fact that it's still happening. There was an increase 52 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:15,519 Speaker 3: in domestic violence during the COVID time because people were 53 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:17,079 Speaker 3: just hon with their spouses more. 54 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 1: I was just going to bring that up. I feel 55 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 1: like the numbers have increased because of the pandemic. 56 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, they have been inclosed spaces all the time. Usually 57 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 3: victims would have some type of escape to a point 58 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:33,680 Speaker 3: to an extent, like they're spouses at work or they 59 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 3: go to work and they get to breathe for a 60 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 3: little bit. COVID shut everything down and everyone was working 61 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 3: from home. It caused an increase violence. 62 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 1: Now, how is domestic abuse portrayed in the media in 63 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 1: popular culture and what impact does this representation have on 64 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:53,840 Speaker 1: the public perception and awareness? Like do you think it 65 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 1: helps the hearts. 66 00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 2: Both but may hurts. 67 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 3: And the reason why I say this because individuals tend 68 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 3: to only think of domestic violence victims as women. And 69 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 3: I say this because we see a lot of shows, 70 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:17,360 Speaker 3: a lot of music videos, a lot of like fake 71 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:21,559 Speaker 3: proposals happening, or skits that are being put on of 72 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 3: the man doing something and the woman getting up and 73 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:28,480 Speaker 3: slapping him. Right, that's a form of domestic violence. So 74 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:30,839 Speaker 3: the thing is that we've become so normalized to that 75 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 3: type of domestic violence. We don't see it, but we 76 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 3: don't like see it as actual violence. 77 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 2: People laugh at it. 78 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:41,920 Speaker 3: It's still being openly showed in shows as if it's. 79 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 2: Just a normal thing. 80 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 3: Right, in reality, it's violence, and if it were reversed, 81 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 3: it would be an uproar. So I feel like when 82 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 3: it comes to equality of how people are treated in 83 00:04:55,360 --> 00:05:00,280 Speaker 3: those situations, it is a bit unfair actually, and media 84 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:05,600 Speaker 3: continually showing those aspects of it causes nothing but more 85 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 3: domestic violence in normalizing it to an extent. 86 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, you think it's still a taboo, I. 87 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 2: Do again, to an extent. I feel like. 88 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 3: A lot of cultures are kind of literally it's a 89 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 3: cultural thing. It's become a generational thing that they've seen 90 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:28,719 Speaker 3: repeatedly throughout families and friends, families, that it's something that 91 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 3: happens that does not is not talked about right, right, 92 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:36,600 Speaker 3: and in a way that it is taboo. It's you know, 93 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 3: not looked at something that needs to be discussed openly. 94 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 2: It's a private family matter, and everyone else. 95 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:45,360 Speaker 1: Is just supposed to stay out of it, especially within 96 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 1: our community, to say, is what happens in this house 97 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:48,599 Speaker 1: stays in this house. 98 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 3: Yes, especially in the African American community, there is a 99 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:58,600 Speaker 3: lot of and it's really unfortunate to say, and it's again, 100 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 3: it's like on both parts. So I don't want to 101 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:04,920 Speaker 3: put it on either gender, right really or like try 102 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:10,159 Speaker 3: to make either one as the attacker. But it happens 103 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:13,560 Speaker 3: on both parts, and unfortunately in the African American community 104 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 3: it is normalized to the extent again that it creates 105 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 3: those generational curses where either the child finds love and 106 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:29,279 Speaker 3: abuse themselves, yeah, or absent parent. They tried to find 107 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 3: that in a spouse and then that in mental abuse, 108 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:34,920 Speaker 3: financial abuse, physical abuse. 109 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:35,480 Speaker 2: Yeah. 110 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 1: And you know what, you make a really good point 111 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:40,039 Speaker 1: because I had a guest on the show, and she 112 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 1: endure a lot of trauma from her father, and because 113 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 1: of that trauma that she endure, she used to beat 114 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:49,480 Speaker 1: up on her husband really bad. And so now it's 115 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 1: our ex husband. But she was saying how she had 116 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 1: to apologize to him because people didn't believe him that 117 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 1: he was in a domestic situation. 118 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 2: Yes, that's more taboo than actual. I believe that's more taboo. 119 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 3: Under the umbrella of domestic violence is when men come 120 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 3: up and openly speak about it. And I also believe 121 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 3: that that's how a lot of attackers are created, because 122 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 3: they were victims themselves and because they're like, you know, 123 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 3: oh you're a man, et cetera, you know, sucked up. 124 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 2: Eventually they explode. 125 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 3: Not saying that's the case with everyone, but I do 126 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 3: believe that that definitely does play a huge part on 127 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 3: the development of a person's mind and their reaction to 128 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:36,520 Speaker 3: certain things. 129 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:39,680 Speaker 1: Now, how did you in your ex fiance first meet? 130 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 2: We met a job for and we were friends for years. 131 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:45,320 Speaker 2: After that. 132 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 3: I went off to college and we just stayed in contact. 133 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 1: So did you go to I'm just curious. 134 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 2: I did not go to any because it's sad because 135 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:01,800 Speaker 2: I not for my associates. I did for my bachelor's. 136 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 1: Okay, okay, good, good, good, Okay. 137 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 2: I went to an HBC for my bachelor So, okay. 138 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 1: I'm going to ask you off the camera where you went, 139 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 1: because I think everybody should experience the HBCU. That's why 140 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 1: I asked, But go ahead with your story. 141 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:14,960 Speaker 2: Yeah. 142 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:18,520 Speaker 3: So, and then we just kind of after a couple 143 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 3: of years, maybe like five years, we ended up in 144 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 3: a relationship. 145 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 1: Oh see, all was knowing each other for a very 146 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 1: long time. Wow. And what was your your impression of 147 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 1: him once I started dating. 148 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:31,120 Speaker 2: I thought it was great. 149 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 3: He was He's very kind and soft spoken and gentle 150 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:38,600 Speaker 3: to an extent, and I just felt like everything about 151 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:41,800 Speaker 3: him was just wonderful at the beginning. 152 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, Now, can you share with me when you first 153 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:47,920 Speaker 1: noticed a change in his behavior that made you feel 154 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:50,719 Speaker 1: a little uncomfortable or you was like, he's not right. 155 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 3: That was the first time was we had an argument 156 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 3: and I was walking, We're walking past each other, and 157 00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 3: he kind of like shoved me with his shoulder. I 158 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:03,800 Speaker 3: was like, bro, check yourself right. And so that was 159 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:07,320 Speaker 3: the first time. But again, like that's something that seems 160 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:10,120 Speaker 3: so small and some people may not like it may 161 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 3: not trigger in their heads that oh that is actually 162 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 3: domestic violence, because you know, I was im produced or anything. 163 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 3: But it started with something so small a push. Then 164 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:25,280 Speaker 3: a shove and then a slap, and then a joke, 165 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 3: and then it just spiraled from there. 166 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:31,959 Speaker 1: Did you witness any domestic abuse when you was growing up? 167 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:33,720 Speaker 2: Yes, I did. My father. 168 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 3: Not my father was an abusive to any of my 169 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:41,880 Speaker 3: siblings or myself, but he was abusive to my mother 170 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 3: and we winessed it, and in return, my mother was 171 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:54,480 Speaker 3: abusive to us, saying yeah, generational course, it just keeps 172 00:09:55,040 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 3: going and going. 173 00:09:56,520 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, did I ever talk about that, like yeah later on? 174 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:02,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, we did. 175 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:03,559 Speaker 1: Did your father apol? 176 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:07,120 Speaker 3: She she held herself accountable for a lot of the 177 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:09,960 Speaker 3: things that she did do, and I understood. I didn't 178 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 3: understand then, but I understood, like how she had so 179 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 3: much stuff going on and she was under a lot 180 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 3: of pressure herself although my father was there. My father 181 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:22,200 Speaker 3: was also very absent drugs or prison, and she was 182 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:24,680 Speaker 3: the one who had to work like two to three 183 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:28,760 Speaker 3: jobs to support us. So although her reaction wasn't right 184 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:32,800 Speaker 3: of where, I do get how it got to that point, 185 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:36,079 Speaker 3: she had no intervention. And another thing that's considered like 186 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:39,840 Speaker 3: taboo in the African American community is speaking about mental health, 187 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:48,120 Speaker 3: yeah or yeah, especially yeah, our generation is pretty much 188 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 3: changing that she's great. Yeah, but so because of that, 189 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:57,280 Speaker 3: it stopped her from getting, you know, the proper health 190 00:10:57,280 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 3: that she needed during that time and support. And so 191 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:03,240 Speaker 3: I understood it and we spoke about it, and I'm 192 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:03,840 Speaker 3: glad we did. 193 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 1: Now, when did he propose to you? Did he propose 194 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:12,000 Speaker 1: to you after the first incident or did because I 195 00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 1: know there was a situation where he strangle you. 196 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:19,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, we were engaged prior to them. 197 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:20,200 Speaker 1: Mm hmm. 198 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 3: So he proposed to me after we had our first child. 199 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 3: M h And that's actually the same year I believe 200 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:31,640 Speaker 3: I was strangled. 201 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 2: Hm. So that's interesting. But I was. 202 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:38,880 Speaker 1: Proposed to Why is it interesting? 203 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:45,000 Speaker 2: How it just like the cycle? I guess that's what 204 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 2: I meant. 205 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:48,160 Speaker 3: Why, Like it's interesting how it's so good, it's great, 206 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:50,680 Speaker 3: and then I'm just like thinking, like, oh wait, later 207 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:53,200 Speaker 3: that year, you try to kill me, and then something 208 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:55,520 Speaker 3: good would happen again, and then something bad. 209 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:59,040 Speaker 2: So it's just interesting how it flowed that way mm hmm. 210 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:01,760 Speaker 1: And then at that point, did you ever think about 211 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:03,600 Speaker 1: like leaving him? 212 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:06,079 Speaker 2: Oh? Yeah, I tried mm hmm. I called the cops 213 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:09,400 Speaker 2: and everything. Oh wow, yes, because I was strangled to. 214 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:13,079 Speaker 3: The point where I was knocked like I was unconscious, 215 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 3: Like I pulled the alarm. 216 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 2: I tried to run out the house through a window. 217 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:17,559 Speaker 2: At one point. 218 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 1: Oh, he was really trying to kill you. 219 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:23,040 Speaker 3: But when the police got there, what they said was 220 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 3: because he had marks on him, they would arrest us both. 221 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 3: Now he did he had marks on his neck. Because 222 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 3: I'm being I'm on the ground, someone's on top of me, 223 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:37,040 Speaker 3: he's strangling me. I was literally desperately and I still 224 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:40,679 Speaker 3: ended up, you know, going to sleep off that like 225 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:43,720 Speaker 3: the scratches did not do anything. He was so focused 226 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 3: on it. And yeah, so the police left and that 227 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:51,280 Speaker 3: was it. And I was like, okay, but I'm stuck 228 00:12:51,520 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 3: because my voice was not loud enough. 229 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 2: But I'm stuck. 230 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:59,160 Speaker 3: So if I leave, if I call the police, something's 231 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:02,080 Speaker 3: gonna happen. They can take my children, et cetera. Right, 232 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 3: And from then we just work together for I think 233 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 3: three years after that too, or two and a half, 234 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 3: and we had no other incidents where he because these 235 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:20,240 Speaker 3: incidents were literally him hitting me. It was never me 236 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 3: hitting him. 237 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:24,280 Speaker 2: But then, you know, I. 238 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 1: Think that's kind of not to cut you off. I 239 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:27,960 Speaker 1: think that's kind of fucked up that that women even 240 00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:31,200 Speaker 1: have to say that, like these incidents, is him hitting me? 241 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:33,320 Speaker 1: Like even if I did hit back, because I'm trying 242 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:38,840 Speaker 1: to fight defend myself. Like I just hate that survivors 243 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:41,400 Speaker 1: have to use that type of verbie to make it 244 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:44,640 Speaker 1: seem as if they didn't, like antagonize the person, like 245 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:47,079 Speaker 1: you know what I'm saying, Like, I think that's messed up. 246 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 3: It is, I get it a lot. Did you get 247 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:52,440 Speaker 3: him first? Like you have to do something, like you 248 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:54,319 Speaker 3: provoke him right, Like. 249 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:56,120 Speaker 2: I don't. 250 00:13:56,360 --> 00:13:59,320 Speaker 3: I don't think I have done anything to make anyone 251 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 3: so said their life half my face. I can't imagine 252 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:05,320 Speaker 3: I could make anybody that upset. 253 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:10,240 Speaker 1: When y'all was friends, did you notice anything about him 254 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 1: prior to being involved with him? 255 00:14:14,679 --> 00:14:15,840 Speaker 2: No? Not at the time. 256 00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 3: Now, older mature, more educated on the issues and the 257 00:14:23,640 --> 00:14:28,520 Speaker 3: personalities and certain things about him that could could have 258 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 3: been like red flags, I suppose from looking from on 259 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:34,680 Speaker 3: the outside looking in. But during that time I was 260 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 3: just like, oh no, he's just a quiet person. He's 261 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:37,560 Speaker 3: just a mixed martial artist. 262 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 2: Like he's a. 263 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:42,840 Speaker 3: Great person, just a little quiet, stays to himself. But 264 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:46,680 Speaker 3: you know, lolder I got, the more I noticed. 265 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 1: So after three years there wasn't any any situation and 266 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 1: at this time that you have your twins or yes, 267 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:57,520 Speaker 1: and my twins before, which I feel like me and 268 00:14:57,560 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 1: my guess is like I literally want her life because 269 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 1: I just told her. You know what's so funny, I 270 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:06,520 Speaker 1: actually want twins. I want twins and I want them 271 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:12,080 Speaker 1: to be born on Halloween. Well you know mine, Listen, 272 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 1: I might have to come and borrow us coupless second 273 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 1: I bring him back up. Oh yeah, I'm bringing back 274 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:18,200 Speaker 1: for sure. I'mna bring him back. 275 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:19,000 Speaker 2: Thank you. 276 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 1: That's Can you share what happened on the days leading 277 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 1: up to the day of your assault? Did you notice 278 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:27,320 Speaker 1: anything about him? 279 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:29,600 Speaker 2: Yeah? He stopped talking to me for two weeks. 280 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 1: Wow. 281 00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 2: Wow. Like when I say, stopped talking to me, would 282 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:38,160 Speaker 2: not acknowledge my existence, would not say a word. 283 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 1: Are y'all living in the same house, same house when. 284 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:43,360 Speaker 2: I say anything to me? 285 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 3: So I was like, that's crazy. And the reason for 286 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 3: that being was because I called off the engagement. And 287 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:54,160 Speaker 3: I did that because the physical abuse turned verbal and 288 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:56,640 Speaker 3: I was told I was useless and I was bes 289 00:15:56,800 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 3: and I was this and I was that I don't 290 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 3: care about anything myself, and I was like, this is 291 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:04,160 Speaker 3: making my mental health deteriorate. 292 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:06,640 Speaker 2: Probably I was really suffering, and I was like, Okay, 293 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 2: I don't love you that much. I gotta love me more. 294 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:13,600 Speaker 2: So he stopped talking to me for like two weeks 295 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:18,760 Speaker 2: and then leading and then the day that this happened. 296 00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 3: Was on the twenty eighth of April. It was two 297 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 3: days before my youngest turned a certain age. 298 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:27,720 Speaker 2: It was under five. I'm just not trying to like, yeah, 299 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 2: not get it. Yeah yeah, And I ordered. 300 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:34,680 Speaker 3: Her a birthday cake. And I asked for help because 301 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 3: I was decorating and stuff, and we were in the basement. 302 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:38,000 Speaker 2: They have a playroom. 303 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:41,640 Speaker 3: I was homeschooling too, so the classroom their playroom, and 304 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:42,280 Speaker 3: I'm an artist. 305 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:45,320 Speaker 2: Everything was just set up and not to cut you off. 306 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:47,680 Speaker 1: Your art and your art is fire. 307 00:16:48,280 --> 00:16:50,840 Speaker 2: Thank you, thank you. Yeah I try it. I love 308 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:53,960 Speaker 2: I love painting. That's one of my biggest things. 309 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 1: But yeah, we're to sell those pieces. 310 00:16:57,640 --> 00:17:00,360 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, So I do do commission I've stopped for 311 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:02,200 Speaker 3: a while thinking that I just kind of lost the talent. 312 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:06,200 Speaker 2: But I can still paint, So back to commission work. 313 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:08,640 Speaker 2: So if you need anything, let me know, I will. 314 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:11,600 Speaker 2: I will. But yeah, so I was ording a cake 315 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 2: for my kid's birthday and at him do something. He 316 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:19,399 Speaker 2: said no. I told him he was annoying, because he 317 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:21,399 Speaker 2: was that's irritating that I have to throw like a 318 00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 2: whole party by myself. And he was like, uh, he 319 00:17:25,440 --> 00:17:27,399 Speaker 2: just need to go upstairs, which was fine. I didn't care. 320 00:17:28,320 --> 00:17:30,880 Speaker 3: But the way it happened was my son was using 321 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:35,399 Speaker 3: my laptop and he was sitting down on this couch 322 00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:38,960 Speaker 3: that we had to the side, and he goes. 323 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 2: Up to my son and snatches it out of his hands. 324 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:43,560 Speaker 3: My son's just a kid, like a babby at this time, 325 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:47,359 Speaker 3: not a baby, but elementary school, still a kid, Like, 326 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:48,440 Speaker 3: why would you do that? 327 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:52,480 Speaker 2: I snatched it back and I was like, I paid 328 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:55,240 Speaker 2: for this dirt, right, you can make my damn computer. 329 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:57,639 Speaker 2: You can go upstairs. Get out of this. 330 00:17:58,400 --> 00:17:59,920 Speaker 3: It was crazy, and I gave it back to him 331 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:02,399 Speaker 3: and I looked at his little hand because starts to swell, 332 00:18:03,119 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 3: and I turned back around and. 333 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:07,919 Speaker 2: To go back to my desk and I was hit 334 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:13,760 Speaker 2: in the back of my head. I think that's it. Well, Vin, 335 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:17,639 Speaker 2: I see you found out that he hid my body 336 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 2: in the back room. Yeah, so it's crazy because I 337 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:25,880 Speaker 2: don't remember the details. 338 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 3: So my story they can't. My story doesn't really like 339 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:33,760 Speaker 3: I don't. I don't know everything that happened. I do 340 00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 3: know that I was moved into the laundry room the 341 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:41,800 Speaker 3: basement to two rooms, went a giant room, and went 342 00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:44,320 Speaker 3: to a laundry room. And I know I was moved 343 00:18:44,359 --> 00:18:47,200 Speaker 3: back there because I woke up at one point before 344 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:53,600 Speaker 3: I was knocked back out somehow, and then I know 345 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:56,440 Speaker 3: that it was trying to clean stuff up. I know 346 00:18:56,560 --> 00:19:00,600 Speaker 3: he changed his clothes. I know the kids sat there 347 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:04,240 Speaker 3: the whole time. Wow, And two of them escaped and 348 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:09,240 Speaker 3: ran to get help, and he chased them. They made 349 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 3: it though, and they got helping and he was arrested. 350 00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:15,680 Speaker 1: I was that do you think this was Do you 351 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 1: think this was premeditated? Like, do you think he was 352 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:19,240 Speaker 1: like planning this? 353 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:21,920 Speaker 2: I think it was premeditated to an extent. 354 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:23,760 Speaker 3: I don't think he meant for it to happen the 355 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:26,840 Speaker 3: way it happened, but I do think it was premeditated. 356 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:30,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, And when you were going in and out, like, 357 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:32,359 Speaker 1: what were your thoughts, Like, oh. 358 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, so I did wake up at one point and 359 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 3: because of the brain injury was so severe, like I 360 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 3: started I remember washing clothes, so I actually got up 361 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 3: and started functioning again, and I remember my son crying 362 00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:48,159 Speaker 3: and I turned around and I was like, why are 363 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:48,879 Speaker 3: you so sad? 364 00:19:49,040 --> 00:19:51,240 Speaker 2: Like how can I help you? What's going on? And 365 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:53,600 Speaker 2: then I remember going back like just being knocked back 366 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:54,240 Speaker 2: out somehow. 367 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:58,639 Speaker 3: Wow, And the next time I was like, uh, I 368 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:03,919 Speaker 3: was I think it was upstairs by then, but then 369 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:09,560 Speaker 3: I was back unconscious. And the time I remember being 370 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:13,400 Speaker 3: like upstairs it was like police, paramedics, everybody was there. 371 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:17,720 Speaker 3: But then and they were like, I remember hearing my 372 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:19,159 Speaker 3: eyeball was out of the socket. 373 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:20,200 Speaker 2: I don't. 374 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:22,720 Speaker 3: I just couldn't stay up though. I could not stay 375 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:26,080 Speaker 3: away for nothing. For nothing, I just would not stay up. 376 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:28,359 Speaker 3: So it was just in and out and just remember 377 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 3: little voices and crying. 378 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 1: So when it comes to your mom, I can only 379 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:45,040 Speaker 1: imagine what the conversations were like now, because if it 380 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:46,960 Speaker 1: wasn't for your son, he saved your life and he 381 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:49,800 Speaker 1: ran upstairs to get your mom. So what does those 382 00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:52,040 Speaker 1: conversations like, Like does she blame herself? 383 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:57,160 Speaker 2: Yeah? She does, so I don't know. I've been telling 384 00:20:57,200 --> 00:20:59,920 Speaker 2: her that she should probably get therapy for it, but 385 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:05,800 Speaker 2: she's like that generation in her sixties, so she's that Oh, 386 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:10,160 Speaker 2: we're resilient. You know, we don't really rely on the counselors. 387 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:13,440 Speaker 2: We're good, I'm good, everything's fine because you know you're here. 388 00:21:13,560 --> 00:21:16,480 Speaker 2: God save this. Everything's fine people. 389 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's but she does blame herself and she feels 390 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:26,000 Speaker 3: really bad, and I know she has probably some form 391 00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:29,639 Speaker 3: of PTSD from it. But in all honesty, yes, my 392 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 3: son ran and his little sister actually followed the one 393 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:36,919 Speaker 3: whose birthday was two days later, she followed together with him. 394 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:40,840 Speaker 3: But although they did that, if it weren't for my mother, 395 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:44,480 Speaker 3: they would have most likely been dead. They would have 396 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:47,920 Speaker 3: most likely been killed next. So my mom did more 397 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:53,800 Speaker 3: saving that day than anyone. She was really brave about 398 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:57,000 Speaker 3: what she did. And I heard part of her statement 399 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:01,360 Speaker 3: about what happened and how she had to like push 400 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:03,760 Speaker 3: past him to go see me and make sure I 401 00:22:03,840 --> 00:22:06,040 Speaker 3: was okay, and she opened the door and yelled and 402 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:09,600 Speaker 3: had all the kids locked, all the kids in the 403 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:14,240 Speaker 3: one room upstairs, like she did so much to protect 404 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:20,040 Speaker 3: and protect not only me but the children. So I 405 00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:22,440 Speaker 3: can't And she's only like five to three, I'm sure, 406 00:22:23,320 --> 00:22:26,960 Speaker 3: yeahs like six one two hundred. Training and mixed martial 407 00:22:27,080 --> 00:22:32,199 Speaker 3: arts boxing, karate super fit, doesn't smoke, drink, no drugs, 408 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:34,520 Speaker 3: so healthy. 409 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:39,360 Speaker 2: So it was you know, she it took a lot 410 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:42,880 Speaker 2: for hern't imagine she was going through. 411 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:45,520 Speaker 3: But yeah, she blames herself and I keep telling her 412 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:46,560 Speaker 3: I wouldn't be allowed it on her. 413 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:49,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, you are the kids. God bless her because I 414 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 1: ain't no telling what she could have done to her 415 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 1: and tying to save her family. 416 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:56,960 Speaker 2: And she put her own like herself really out there 417 00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:59,720 Speaker 2: for us. Yeah, I don't love my mama. I'mna call her. 418 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:03,040 Speaker 3: After this, Yeah, I say, I call her like every 419 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:05,720 Speaker 3: she'd be at work and I just annoyed her because 420 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:09,600 Speaker 3: due to the disability, I can't work right now. Yeah, 421 00:23:09,960 --> 00:23:12,520 Speaker 3: so I call her every thirty minutes, so I feel 422 00:23:12,560 --> 00:23:16,119 Speaker 3: like giving her some space every fifty but just know 423 00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:19,240 Speaker 3: there's not an hour that doesn't pass that her phone. 424 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:22,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, no, I totally agree. And I also think that, 425 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:27,240 Speaker 1: you know, especially in a situation that unfortunately you was in, 426 00:23:27,560 --> 00:23:30,880 Speaker 1: like sometimes being with your family is all you need, 427 00:23:31,040 --> 00:23:33,240 Speaker 1: Like you need that love, like you need that support. 428 00:23:33,359 --> 00:23:36,280 Speaker 1: Because I feel like sometimes every day we're reminded of 429 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:40,200 Speaker 1: how much it really matters. So maybe you're not getting 430 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:41,919 Speaker 1: on her. Nurse she might like she I'm pretty sure. 431 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:43,040 Speaker 1: I know for a fact she likes it. 432 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:45,959 Speaker 3: She answers all the time she's in the meeting, then 433 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:48,679 Speaker 3: she texts, But you know, I don't care about her 434 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:49,399 Speaker 3: little ass meetings. 435 00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:55,800 Speaker 1: I ain't say that, mam. Now, can you describe the 436 00:23:55,960 --> 00:23:59,600 Speaker 1: nature and extent of the injuries you sustain doing. 437 00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:04,080 Speaker 2: This so song out? So to an extent I can. 438 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:07,119 Speaker 3: I can describe them, and that's because a lot of 439 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:10,439 Speaker 3: them is an eye injury and I can't pronounce ninety 440 00:24:10,480 --> 00:24:14,760 Speaker 3: eight percent of the words, but it was mostly a 441 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:18,359 Speaker 3: traumatic brain injury, which I still have. So sometimes I 442 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:23,440 Speaker 3: put words where they don't belong, or I stutter over myself. 443 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:26,280 Speaker 2: I'm trying to think of words and they don't like. 444 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:28,240 Speaker 2: My brain doesn't. 445 00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:31,480 Speaker 3: Work as fast as my mouth wants it to or 446 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:34,640 Speaker 3: what I'm used to it. So, and that's something I'm 447 00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:36,920 Speaker 3: still dealing with. And I know I probably would do 448 00:24:37,080 --> 00:24:41,240 Speaker 3: some therapy or some type of speech. I don't know 449 00:24:41,359 --> 00:24:44,920 Speaker 3: what actually cures that, but I know it's a work 450 00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:48,520 Speaker 3: in progress, and a year out, I did have to 451 00:24:48,560 --> 00:24:51,320 Speaker 3: give my brain some time to hell and let's swell 452 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:54,360 Speaker 3: and go down before I could really focus on treatment 453 00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:57,600 Speaker 3: for it. But Okay, So it was the traumatic brain injury, 454 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:04,240 Speaker 3: a broken nose. My lips were split in half, both 455 00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:08,680 Speaker 3: of them. They were sutured back together. I had staples 456 00:25:08,720 --> 00:25:10,960 Speaker 3: on both sides of my head, like in the front 457 00:25:12,040 --> 00:25:15,520 Speaker 3: appier and that's here we can see it, and there's 458 00:25:15,560 --> 00:25:17,800 Speaker 3: like a ball, yes, a bear it was. I had 459 00:25:17,840 --> 00:25:20,520 Speaker 3: sutures and they go back, and then in the back 460 00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:26,240 Speaker 3: of my head, I had stables. I had stitches on 461 00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:29,040 Speaker 3: my eyelid. My eyelid had to be like it was 462 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:32,720 Speaker 3: also split open in a crazy way because the way 463 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:36,560 Speaker 3: the eyeball came out, it ripped the eyelid. 464 00:25:38,119 --> 00:25:38,880 Speaker 2: I had. 465 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:43,080 Speaker 3: Most of the bones on the right side of my 466 00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:47,119 Speaker 3: face broken. I have no like eye socket on that side. 467 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:54,680 Speaker 3: It's held up by a titanium implant. I cannot breathe 468 00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:58,560 Speaker 3: out of my right nostril because of the facial paralysis. 469 00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:00,359 Speaker 3: And as you can see, like the eyelet doesn't open. 470 00:26:00,960 --> 00:26:07,320 Speaker 3: That's because he tore the nerve that connected to the marine. 471 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:11,320 Speaker 3: It's just like completely clean gone, so it just doesn't open. 472 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:14,240 Speaker 1: I hope he is getting his in jail, man. I 473 00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:15,760 Speaker 1: hope he is getting He. 474 00:26:17,359 --> 00:26:17,800 Speaker 2: Deserves it. 475 00:26:17,920 --> 00:26:21,520 Speaker 3: But wait, there's more so the bone fragments launched into 476 00:26:21,600 --> 00:26:26,600 Speaker 3: my eye. They tore my iris, so I am blind. 477 00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:29,199 Speaker 3: I have brighten a detachment. I'm gonna have to get 478 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:34,040 Speaker 3: the eyeball removed soon because it's dying. Yeah, and there's 479 00:26:34,080 --> 00:26:37,840 Speaker 3: no uh trying to figure out how they explained. I 480 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:41,760 Speaker 3: just came back from the enthalmologists today earlier today, and 481 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:44,920 Speaker 3: the cells don't regenerate in your eye, so you know, 482 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:49,280 Speaker 3: like when you scrab a knee it, yeah, your eye 483 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:49,800 Speaker 3: doesn't do that. 484 00:26:50,920 --> 00:26:53,399 Speaker 1: So it sounds dumb. Is the eye like an organ? 485 00:26:55,280 --> 00:26:57,480 Speaker 2: You know what? I can't tell you. 486 00:26:57,800 --> 00:26:59,800 Speaker 3: I do believe the eyes are organs, but I could 487 00:26:59,840 --> 00:27:02,159 Speaker 3: be completely wrong, and I don't want to. 488 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:04,480 Speaker 1: Because I don't want to sound stupid, but I feel 489 00:27:04,480 --> 00:27:07,400 Speaker 1: like with certain organs they don't heal as easily as. 490 00:27:08,840 --> 00:27:10,600 Speaker 3: And I think it's the ones that are closest to 491 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:13,879 Speaker 3: the central nervous system or have direct contact with the brain. 492 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:18,280 Speaker 3: And since, yeah, the nerves and the eye are directly 493 00:27:18,400 --> 00:27:20,840 Speaker 3: contacted with the brain and not split off into like 494 00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:24,160 Speaker 3: other nerves are, I'm not sure if that makes sense, 495 00:27:24,440 --> 00:27:31,040 Speaker 3: doctor literally just yeah, but yeah, it doesn't regenerate and 496 00:27:31,119 --> 00:27:33,879 Speaker 3: that's cool, Like that's fine. It is what it is 497 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:37,439 Speaker 3: you just you know, I still can see it all 498 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:42,800 Speaker 3: the side. It's not as bad, but yeah, facial paralysis too. 499 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:49,240 Speaker 3: He knocked out most of my back teeth. He my 500 00:27:49,440 --> 00:27:53,320 Speaker 3: jaw was moved, which I'm debating on surgery about. I'm 501 00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:54,960 Speaker 3: leaning towards the more so no. 502 00:27:55,720 --> 00:28:02,880 Speaker 2: Sounds painful and PTSD, which I guess. They also found 503 00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:06,600 Speaker 2: weird markings on my uterus. 504 00:28:08,800 --> 00:28:11,240 Speaker 3: Due to my me being unconscious, I could not consent 505 00:28:11,359 --> 00:28:13,920 Speaker 3: to a rape kit, and then when I was conscious, 506 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:16,480 Speaker 3: apparently I was just so out of it, like I 507 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:18,440 Speaker 3: had no idea what happened, and I was asking for 508 00:28:18,600 --> 00:28:21,159 Speaker 3: him and because I didn't know he did this at 509 00:28:21,200 --> 00:28:24,920 Speaker 3: the time, So at no point could I consent to 510 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:29,080 Speaker 3: any forms of rape kits done. I honestly would much 511 00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:34,040 Speaker 3: rather not know if anything happened. Yeah, I would just 512 00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:37,200 Speaker 3: rather not Now. I don't think it'll do me any 513 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:39,640 Speaker 3: It wouldn't make me feel better, right? 514 00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:42,240 Speaker 1: Is it hard for you to talk about this? 515 00:28:44,360 --> 00:28:44,840 Speaker 2: Sometimes? 516 00:28:45,520 --> 00:28:51,520 Speaker 3: Not all the time, mostly because I am at the 517 00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:56,720 Speaker 3: stage that I'm at where I haven't fully processed it, 518 00:28:57,080 --> 00:29:00,440 Speaker 3: so I dissociate from it a lot. I detached myself 519 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:03,000 Speaker 3: and instead of it being like, oh yeah, this is 520 00:29:03,080 --> 00:29:06,520 Speaker 3: really me, this happened to me. I think of it 521 00:29:06,760 --> 00:29:09,960 Speaker 3: as well, I saw this really cool show on Netflix 522 00:29:10,320 --> 00:29:13,640 Speaker 3: and it was wild and they had the greatest actors. 523 00:29:14,320 --> 00:29:16,680 Speaker 3: And that's just how my brain is perceiving it as 524 00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:18,560 Speaker 3: in like, yeah, I get that it happened to me. 525 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:21,200 Speaker 3: And sometimes it hits really hard and I break down 526 00:29:21,240 --> 00:29:24,040 Speaker 3: and I cry. For the most part, it's just like. 527 00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:32,200 Speaker 2: It's not real. Yeah, it's like I can't believe. 528 00:29:32,280 --> 00:29:33,840 Speaker 3: And I talk about it in a way that's so 529 00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:37,280 Speaker 3: nonchalant that I think it throws a lot of people 530 00:29:37,440 --> 00:29:44,400 Speaker 3: off m But it was also a severe brain injury, 531 00:29:44,600 --> 00:29:47,280 Speaker 3: so it is going to take me a while of 532 00:29:47,440 --> 00:29:50,360 Speaker 3: like intense therapy to really. 533 00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:55,120 Speaker 2: Process it right. 534 00:29:56,120 --> 00:29:57,760 Speaker 1: And not to get in your business or anything. But 535 00:29:57,760 --> 00:29:59,640 Speaker 1: who's paying for all this? Because this is this I 536 00:29:59,800 --> 00:30:00,800 Speaker 1: know this is not cheap. 537 00:30:02,160 --> 00:30:05,560 Speaker 2: So I have Medicaid, which is great because they pay 538 00:30:05,640 --> 00:30:12,280 Speaker 2: for some of it, but there is I do have 539 00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:13,840 Speaker 2: bills that they did not cover. 540 00:30:15,760 --> 00:30:17,320 Speaker 3: Then I've paid for some of them, and then I 541 00:30:17,440 --> 00:30:20,040 Speaker 3: just have some left. But I think I only have 542 00:30:20,160 --> 00:30:23,160 Speaker 3: like six hundred and forty one dollars left on a bill, 543 00:30:23,200 --> 00:30:23,840 Speaker 3: which is great. 544 00:30:24,840 --> 00:30:26,720 Speaker 1: And now listen, any of the listeners want to come 545 00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:30,680 Speaker 1: out and support our professional homegirl. Be a blessing. 546 00:30:31,720 --> 00:30:37,000 Speaker 2: Support me, yeah, but in all honesty, I mean support 547 00:30:37,040 --> 00:30:39,160 Speaker 2: me anyway. But but I do. 548 00:30:39,640 --> 00:30:41,840 Speaker 3: I think I'm doing well with like managing the bills, 549 00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:45,560 Speaker 3: because I always ask for out of what I'm going 550 00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:47,600 Speaker 3: to have to come out of cost first, right, and 551 00:30:47,880 --> 00:30:50,360 Speaker 3: due to like I don't know how much Medicaid is 552 00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:54,360 Speaker 3: going to pay now through my insurance, simply because a 553 00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:56,760 Speaker 3: lot of the stuff that I have left over mm 554 00:30:56,840 --> 00:31:02,040 Speaker 3: hmm would be considered cosmetic to an extent. I still 555 00:31:02,120 --> 00:31:07,200 Speaker 3: need no surgery because the way it rehealed after it 556 00:31:07,320 --> 00:31:10,280 Speaker 3: was fractured, it completely blocked off the right nostril. Of 557 00:31:10,360 --> 00:31:13,320 Speaker 3: course they would pay for that. But then there's stuff 558 00:31:13,520 --> 00:31:16,800 Speaker 3: like my eyelid or the fact that half of my 559 00:31:16,920 --> 00:31:20,920 Speaker 3: face droops down, where that stuff is considered cosmetic. My 560 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:23,640 Speaker 3: eyelid does not need to be open because I can 561 00:31:23,720 --> 00:31:28,280 Speaker 3: no longer see it of that eye right, and it 562 00:31:28,400 --> 00:31:31,720 Speaker 3: is technically cosmetic surgery. And at first I was okay 563 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:35,040 Speaker 3: with accepting the fact that I may not be able 564 00:31:35,040 --> 00:31:36,960 Speaker 3: to get this. It's probably not going to be covered, 565 00:31:37,800 --> 00:31:40,240 Speaker 3: and I was able to deal with that. My problem 566 00:31:40,520 --> 00:31:44,640 Speaker 3: is that it does not matter where I go, people look, 567 00:31:45,680 --> 00:31:48,160 Speaker 3: and some people look and look away. The most respect 568 00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:50,360 Speaker 3: that get for this when someone's just curious as looking 569 00:31:50,480 --> 00:31:52,480 Speaker 3: is from kids little six and under. 570 00:31:52,760 --> 00:31:56,040 Speaker 2: They'll look and look away. It's perfect. Their parents will 571 00:31:56,080 --> 00:31:56,680 Speaker 2: look and stare. 572 00:31:58,200 --> 00:32:01,240 Speaker 3: It's crazy how the children will always know to not 573 00:32:01,440 --> 00:32:05,400 Speaker 3: like look and just stare at someone, but the parents 574 00:32:05,400 --> 00:32:07,320 Speaker 3: will always look. Unless I walk into a school. I 575 00:32:07,360 --> 00:32:09,640 Speaker 3: do have young kids, like I mentioned, so there are 576 00:32:09,680 --> 00:32:13,360 Speaker 3: times when I have to go into a school and 577 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:16,280 Speaker 3: that's a lot of them and they're just really staring, right. 578 00:32:16,840 --> 00:32:18,400 Speaker 3: But you know, children are curious. 579 00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:20,720 Speaker 1: Right, So but grown ups y'all know better. 580 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:24,880 Speaker 3: The grown ups, the adults, especially the ones with the 581 00:32:24,960 --> 00:32:29,200 Speaker 3: kids that don't look, don't stare, right, and they're just staring, 582 00:32:29,640 --> 00:32:34,040 Speaker 3: and it's just uncomfortable. I think that's really the reason 583 00:32:34,080 --> 00:32:37,080 Speaker 3: why I want the eyelet open in the first place. 584 00:32:37,960 --> 00:32:41,360 Speaker 1: Well, the reason why I ask about the cost of things, 585 00:32:41,440 --> 00:32:45,520 Speaker 1: because unfortunately, a lot of people can relate to being 586 00:32:45,560 --> 00:32:48,080 Speaker 1: a survivor of domestic abuse, and I'm just like, do 587 00:32:48,160 --> 00:32:50,120 Speaker 1: you need the state or somebody should have to like 588 00:32:50,640 --> 00:32:54,040 Speaker 1: assist those survivors because it can really add up. I 589 00:32:54,080 --> 00:32:57,280 Speaker 1: can only imagine how much this has cost you in 590 00:32:57,400 --> 00:32:58,440 Speaker 1: the insurance companies. 591 00:33:00,440 --> 00:33:04,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, so to just to give a rough estimate, because 592 00:33:04,280 --> 00:33:05,920 Speaker 2: I've had like a whole other year of surgery now, 593 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:08,600 Speaker 2: but just last year alone, it was ninety one thousand 594 00:33:08,920 --> 00:33:11,600 Speaker 2: from the two weeks I stayed at that hospital. 595 00:33:11,720 --> 00:33:13,640 Speaker 1: That's a lot of money, it was. 596 00:33:13,800 --> 00:33:18,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, so it's expensive. And luckily I have a brother 597 00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:20,840 Speaker 2: who is an officer. 598 00:33:22,360 --> 00:33:24,320 Speaker 3: Not only is he like a police not only is 599 00:33:24,360 --> 00:33:27,200 Speaker 3: he a police officer, he is an influencer and has. 600 00:33:27,080 --> 00:33:30,160 Speaker 2: A large following. 601 00:33:32,040 --> 00:33:33,600 Speaker 1: You want to fuck, did he fuck a boy up? 602 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:36,960 Speaker 2: He did not, because this no one else was there, 603 00:33:37,080 --> 00:33:38,840 Speaker 2: like and he where he is is way too far 604 00:33:39,040 --> 00:33:41,040 Speaker 2: from but he got there that day. But what he 605 00:33:41,120 --> 00:33:42,480 Speaker 2: did was he set up a gofund me. 606 00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:43,880 Speaker 1: Oh God bless him. 607 00:33:43,960 --> 00:33:48,520 Speaker 2: Okay, that gofund me saved me. Like, and they say 608 00:33:48,600 --> 00:33:50,040 Speaker 2: that the state does offer assistance. 609 00:33:51,200 --> 00:33:54,840 Speaker 3: They do offer assistance again to an extent to stuff 610 00:33:54,880 --> 00:33:59,200 Speaker 3: that you know Medicaid won't won't cover. 611 00:33:59,320 --> 00:34:03,600 Speaker 2: You do have to go through a wait like we 612 00:34:03,680 --> 00:34:06,200 Speaker 2: waited months and again without that gofund me, we. 613 00:34:06,160 --> 00:34:08,040 Speaker 1: Would have went out wait. 614 00:34:09,400 --> 00:34:10,000 Speaker 2: It was months. 615 00:34:10,040 --> 00:34:14,480 Speaker 3: It was like four or five six months maybe before No, 616 00:34:14,480 --> 00:34:16,719 Speaker 3: I'm gonna say about four or five months later when 617 00:34:16,800 --> 00:34:20,480 Speaker 3: we got paid back, and but that GoFundMe was the 618 00:34:20,600 --> 00:34:22,720 Speaker 3: only way I did not have to stay in that house, 619 00:34:23,560 --> 00:34:28,000 Speaker 3: so we use the money for a hotel for the 620 00:34:28,239 --> 00:34:29,840 Speaker 3: I was still to the point like I would go 621 00:34:29,920 --> 00:34:32,040 Speaker 3: in the basement and then I would try to find him. 622 00:34:32,120 --> 00:34:34,160 Speaker 2: Because I did not think that it happened. But then 623 00:34:34,160 --> 00:34:35,520 Speaker 2: I would see blood on the walls, and I'd have 624 00:34:35,640 --> 00:34:40,360 Speaker 2: these crazy flashbacks. And one night I was outside for 625 00:34:40,520 --> 00:34:41,879 Speaker 2: like I mean, I was sorry. 626 00:34:41,920 --> 00:34:45,960 Speaker 3: I was downstairs for like twelve hours cleaning blood off 627 00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:50,600 Speaker 3: the walls because they don't send prime seeing clean up. 628 00:34:50,719 --> 00:34:53,759 Speaker 3: I guess if the victim survives. My brother had to 629 00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:55,120 Speaker 3: do it, my youngest brother. 630 00:34:55,480 --> 00:34:57,000 Speaker 1: So I know that you was in the hospital for 631 00:34:57,160 --> 00:35:00,560 Speaker 1: ten days and you have received, if I'm not really mistaken, 632 00:35:00,719 --> 00:35:05,960 Speaker 1: seven reconstructive surgeries. Yes, So how has your life and 633 00:35:06,040 --> 00:35:09,840 Speaker 1: recovery been since the incident, and are there any ongoing 634 00:35:09,960 --> 00:35:11,000 Speaker 1: challenges that you're facing. 635 00:35:13,200 --> 00:35:17,439 Speaker 3: Recovery sucks because I thought it was going to be like, Okay, 636 00:35:17,560 --> 00:35:21,480 Speaker 3: this happened, but you're gonna make a full recovery and 637 00:35:21,960 --> 00:35:22,919 Speaker 3: everything's gonna be great. 638 00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:25,040 Speaker 2: Granted, I guess I did make a full recovery. To 639 00:35:25,120 --> 00:35:25,520 Speaker 2: an extent. 640 00:35:26,400 --> 00:35:28,880 Speaker 3: I guess I just didn't make the full recovery that 641 00:35:29,000 --> 00:35:32,160 Speaker 3: I wanted to make where I would look like nothing 642 00:35:32,200 --> 00:35:35,480 Speaker 3: ever happened, you know, because I'm so used to any 643 00:35:35,520 --> 00:35:37,480 Speaker 3: other mark that he left on me fading, so I 644 00:35:37,680 --> 00:35:40,440 Speaker 3: assumed that this one would fade as well and I 645 00:35:40,480 --> 00:35:45,000 Speaker 3: would forget about it. It did not, and I think 646 00:35:45,040 --> 00:35:47,560 Speaker 3: that that's probably the most challenging part of recovery, is 647 00:35:48,360 --> 00:35:51,040 Speaker 3: the fact that some of the injury is permanent, and 648 00:35:51,200 --> 00:35:56,680 Speaker 3: I have to find some way of accepting that, as 649 00:35:56,719 --> 00:35:59,239 Speaker 3: well as accepting the fact that I still have a 650 00:35:59,320 --> 00:36:03,920 Speaker 3: lot of mental stuff that I have to work through. 651 00:36:04,120 --> 00:36:08,600 Speaker 3: And I think that's probably worse than the physical aspect 652 00:36:08,680 --> 00:36:12,680 Speaker 3: by far, is the mental that I have to get 653 00:36:12,760 --> 00:36:14,040 Speaker 3: out of and get out of. 654 00:36:14,080 --> 00:36:15,040 Speaker 2: My head, because like. 655 00:36:16,680 --> 00:36:20,480 Speaker 3: It's everyone gets to move on and everyone gets to forget, 656 00:36:20,600 --> 00:36:22,480 Speaker 3: and not only do I have to carry the marks 657 00:36:22,520 --> 00:36:25,719 Speaker 3: on my face, I still have to relive it. I 658 00:36:25,800 --> 00:36:28,880 Speaker 3: resent the idea that even if people are like and 659 00:36:29,000 --> 00:36:30,719 Speaker 3: I'm not even I don't even know how to word 660 00:36:30,800 --> 00:36:34,600 Speaker 3: this where it was sound like everyone involved aside from 661 00:36:34,640 --> 00:36:36,879 Speaker 3: my family really because mentally, I know they're still going 662 00:36:36,960 --> 00:36:44,360 Speaker 3: through this, but doctors and officerious and just people like 663 00:36:44,480 --> 00:36:47,040 Speaker 3: this happened, and it's like, oh that sucks for them. 664 00:36:47,880 --> 00:36:50,400 Speaker 3: It might weigh on them for a bit, right, but 665 00:36:50,560 --> 00:36:53,480 Speaker 3: again they get to move on, like it doesn't leave 666 00:36:53,520 --> 00:37:02,680 Speaker 3: any like permanent scarring or permanent mental damage. And I 667 00:37:02,760 --> 00:37:05,759 Speaker 3: feel like that's probably the hardest part. And it's probably 668 00:37:05,800 --> 00:37:07,879 Speaker 3: a linear way of thinking too, because I really don't 669 00:37:07,960 --> 00:37:14,799 Speaker 3: know m the how this has impacted other people. But again, 670 00:37:14,840 --> 00:37:17,000 Speaker 3: it's just something that's in my head that I'm still 671 00:37:17,040 --> 00:37:19,480 Speaker 3: trying to work through. Although I was a victim, there 672 00:37:19,480 --> 00:37:24,600 Speaker 3: were several victims in this case, and I gotta realize 673 00:37:24,600 --> 00:37:26,840 Speaker 3: to be all heal at different you know, broad in 674 00:37:27,040 --> 00:37:27,960 Speaker 3: some stage of healing. 675 00:37:28,360 --> 00:37:31,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, So do you plan on doing any counseling or 676 00:37:31,040 --> 00:37:32,880 Speaker 1: like going to any therapy, because I do feel like 677 00:37:33,960 --> 00:37:36,560 Speaker 1: talking to someone would definitely help you with your healing journey. 678 00:37:38,360 --> 00:37:41,200 Speaker 3: So I've been in counseling the whole time since this 679 00:37:41,280 --> 00:37:47,920 Speaker 3: has happened. I've been in trauma counseling and it has worked. 680 00:37:49,280 --> 00:37:56,239 Speaker 2: So well. Okay, but it didn't work in therapy. It's 681 00:37:56,360 --> 00:38:02,160 Speaker 2: just this isn't something that is going to like fix 682 00:38:02,320 --> 00:38:03,040 Speaker 2: and just a year. 683 00:38:03,520 --> 00:38:06,279 Speaker 1: Yeah, No, absolutely, it takes time, and I. 684 00:38:06,400 --> 00:38:08,680 Speaker 2: Be thinking that it's I'm like, well, day, we all 685 00:38:08,800 --> 00:38:12,680 Speaker 2: be reaching up on two years it's going on. I 686 00:38:12,719 --> 00:38:14,919 Speaker 2: should be okay now, but it takes time. 687 00:38:15,920 --> 00:38:21,160 Speaker 3: PTSD is something that really takes time, and this can 688 00:38:21,400 --> 00:38:23,359 Speaker 3: be something that I don't actually. 689 00:38:24,760 --> 00:38:27,200 Speaker 2: Get better from. I just learned how to live with. 690 00:38:27,800 --> 00:38:31,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, Now, how has your perception of your self image 691 00:38:31,920 --> 00:38:33,120 Speaker 1: and your self worth evolve? 692 00:38:35,480 --> 00:38:41,879 Speaker 3: I feel like that's still evolving. I find that question 693 00:38:42,080 --> 00:38:45,680 Speaker 3: hard because I don't really find a lot of great, 694 00:38:45,880 --> 00:38:51,919 Speaker 3: like theming qualities about myself, and that has to do Yeah, 695 00:38:52,000 --> 00:38:56,239 Speaker 3: I mean, honestly, I'm an okay person. Like I'm not 696 00:38:56,320 --> 00:39:01,120 Speaker 3: the best person. I'm an okay person. I'm the best 697 00:39:01,160 --> 00:39:01,919 Speaker 3: parent for sure. 698 00:39:02,120 --> 00:39:07,040 Speaker 1: But yeah, you're a great mother, thanks, and I just 699 00:39:07,200 --> 00:39:07,440 Speaker 1: met you. 700 00:39:09,920 --> 00:39:12,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, I love being parent. I think that's probably one 701 00:39:12,440 --> 00:39:15,040 Speaker 3: of the best things about me is that I don't 702 00:39:15,160 --> 00:39:19,080 Speaker 3: have a very high self esteem or self worth. And 703 00:39:19,120 --> 00:39:22,440 Speaker 3: I don't even know that came from this situation, but 704 00:39:22,600 --> 00:39:25,560 Speaker 3: I know it didn't help it and it has nothing 705 00:39:25,760 --> 00:39:29,759 Speaker 3: to it probably actually probably has everything to do with 706 00:39:30,120 --> 00:39:35,239 Speaker 3: how I was left after it, honestly, right, So, yeah, 707 00:39:35,480 --> 00:39:40,200 Speaker 3: I think most of the time I feel helpless and insecure, 708 00:39:40,480 --> 00:39:44,040 Speaker 3: But I do admire my strength to because I will 709 00:39:44,160 --> 00:39:47,800 Speaker 3: be crying by myself and then I'll be like, Okay, 710 00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:49,440 Speaker 3: well look at the time, and it's Saturday. 711 00:39:49,480 --> 00:39:51,480 Speaker 2: It's pancake day. We about to go make some super 712 00:39:51,600 --> 00:39:54,320 Speaker 2: sugary sweet. Yeah. They did not need to be eating, 713 00:39:54,400 --> 00:39:56,680 Speaker 2: but it's Saturday, and we do this every Saturday. 714 00:39:57,560 --> 00:40:02,239 Speaker 3: So I admire my strength and my ability to hide 715 00:40:02,280 --> 00:40:06,400 Speaker 3: it because just because I'm stuck and I'm still stagnant 716 00:40:06,520 --> 00:40:10,239 Speaker 3: in that place a year ago, my kids are not. 717 00:40:11,040 --> 00:40:11,600 Speaker 2: And that's. 718 00:40:14,160 --> 00:40:16,960 Speaker 3: Those are the ones that I'm so happy that they 719 00:40:17,120 --> 00:40:22,000 Speaker 3: really like are thriving and they're not stuck. But like again, 720 00:40:22,080 --> 00:40:24,200 Speaker 3: to me, in my head, that's just where I am. 721 00:40:24,320 --> 00:40:27,840 Speaker 2: Like I feel like but I told my mom this, 722 00:40:28,080 --> 00:40:30,560 Speaker 2: actually it was in my witness statement, But I feel 723 00:40:30,600 --> 00:40:34,600 Speaker 2: like I was hit so hard in that basement that 724 00:40:35,280 --> 00:40:39,200 Speaker 2: my blood like literally sleep through everything, that a part 725 00:40:39,239 --> 00:40:41,520 Speaker 2: of me is stuck there, like when I died, even 726 00:40:41,560 --> 00:40:43,480 Speaker 2: though I'm back, or when I was close. 727 00:40:43,280 --> 00:40:48,560 Speaker 3: To death, like part of me did not come all 728 00:40:48,600 --> 00:40:51,600 Speaker 3: the way back. And I feel, well, that's how I 729 00:40:51,600 --> 00:40:53,759 Speaker 3: explain my mental block. I don't really think like my 730 00:40:53,880 --> 00:40:54,920 Speaker 3: spirit or anything is. 731 00:40:54,920 --> 00:40:55,319 Speaker 2: Like right. 732 00:40:58,080 --> 00:41:02,000 Speaker 1: Left, yeah, Are you still in the house of this happening? 733 00:41:03,360 --> 00:41:05,000 Speaker 1: Are you still in the house of this is happening? 734 00:41:05,120 --> 00:41:09,640 Speaker 2: Oh? No, oh no, no, no, okay, but absolutely not. 735 00:41:10,120 --> 00:41:12,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, have these moments where I feel like I'm back 736 00:41:12,520 --> 00:41:14,680 Speaker 3: in that basement and I'm just waking up for the 737 00:41:14,719 --> 00:41:19,400 Speaker 3: first time. Yeah, and it's just like these weird flashbacks, 738 00:41:19,520 --> 00:41:23,160 Speaker 3: like there's it doesn't matter like how hard I tried 739 00:41:23,160 --> 00:41:26,759 Speaker 3: to escape that because I lost so much that day. Yeah, 740 00:41:28,840 --> 00:41:31,719 Speaker 3: that's just where a part of my my brain is. 741 00:41:32,239 --> 00:41:33,839 Speaker 3: That's where part of I am stuck at. 742 00:41:34,480 --> 00:41:35,880 Speaker 2: And that's a I like, I just a. 743 00:41:36,880 --> 00:41:40,880 Speaker 3: That's a mental block that I'm continually working through and 744 00:41:40,960 --> 00:41:43,080 Speaker 3: I have been. There hasn't been a single day where 745 00:41:43,120 --> 00:41:46,200 Speaker 3: I've woken up and I felt fully free from that situation. 746 00:41:55,040 --> 00:41:57,279 Speaker 1: I will say, you know, when I came across your 747 00:41:57,400 --> 00:42:00,719 Speaker 1: story and y'all, I was like DM and her like 748 00:42:00,840 --> 00:42:04,320 Speaker 1: NonStop because for certain people, I just know that, like 749 00:42:04,800 --> 00:42:07,120 Speaker 1: this person is gonna really be a blessing to people. 750 00:42:07,680 --> 00:42:09,960 Speaker 1: And you know, even though you have lost a lot, 751 00:42:10,000 --> 00:42:11,759 Speaker 1: I feel like you have gained a lot as well. 752 00:42:11,920 --> 00:42:15,160 Speaker 1: And I feel like, you know, you're really gonna help 753 00:42:15,160 --> 00:42:16,839 Speaker 1: a lot of people. And I feel like sometimes people 754 00:42:16,880 --> 00:42:20,200 Speaker 1: need to see a physical manifestation of hope, and I 755 00:42:20,280 --> 00:42:22,520 Speaker 1: feel like that is what you embody. And you know, 756 00:42:22,600 --> 00:42:25,000 Speaker 1: I'm gonna definitely pray over you because you know, what 757 00:42:25,160 --> 00:42:27,800 Speaker 1: you endure would have broke a lot of people. And 758 00:42:28,040 --> 00:42:29,880 Speaker 1: the fact that he did not break your spirit or 759 00:42:30,040 --> 00:42:31,919 Speaker 1: the little bit of spirit that you do have, that's 760 00:42:31,960 --> 00:42:34,359 Speaker 1: all you need. You just gotta take it day by day. 761 00:42:35,400 --> 00:42:36,239 Speaker 2: I appreciate that. 762 00:42:37,920 --> 00:42:39,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, take it day by day. I think you're a 763 00:42:39,560 --> 00:42:42,520 Speaker 1: great woman, like you a great mother, like you know 764 00:42:42,560 --> 00:42:45,200 Speaker 1: what I'm saying, Like you still you're getting up, taking 765 00:42:45,200 --> 00:42:47,759 Speaker 1: care of your responsibilities, like you're doing a damn thing. 766 00:42:48,000 --> 00:42:50,239 Speaker 1: Like you gotta give your stuff some credit because it's 767 00:42:50,280 --> 00:42:54,640 Speaker 1: not easy you. Yeah, of course we're gonna pour into 768 00:42:54,719 --> 00:42:56,800 Speaker 1: each other because I want you to love yourself the 769 00:42:56,840 --> 00:42:58,880 Speaker 1: way that you deserve to be loved, because you deserve it. 770 00:43:00,600 --> 00:43:03,600 Speaker 1: You deserve to be happy. Yeah, first strug, you got 771 00:43:03,640 --> 00:43:06,160 Speaker 1: me about the cry because I'm like, I don't want 772 00:43:06,200 --> 00:43:08,080 Speaker 1: to hear black women saying it, Like you've been through enough, 773 00:43:08,160 --> 00:43:09,680 Speaker 1: Like you deserve to be in a space where you 774 00:43:09,840 --> 00:43:13,320 Speaker 1: are happy, and happiness is a journey, so it's not 775 00:43:13,400 --> 00:43:15,239 Speaker 1: going to happen overnight. But I think that you're doing 776 00:43:15,280 --> 00:43:17,239 Speaker 1: everything that you need to be doing to get on 777 00:43:17,320 --> 00:43:18,920 Speaker 1: their tracks. So give yourself some credit. 778 00:43:19,680 --> 00:43:21,320 Speaker 2: Thank you, don't cry. It's okay. 779 00:43:21,560 --> 00:43:25,200 Speaker 3: I feel like it's a good thing though. Yeah, yes, 780 00:43:26,000 --> 00:43:28,480 Speaker 3: it's good that I'm able to say it. And I'm 781 00:43:28,560 --> 00:43:31,640 Speaker 3: not the only I'm not the only black woman that 782 00:43:31,680 --> 00:43:33,960 Speaker 3: feels this way there. I know, in fact i'm not. 783 00:43:34,320 --> 00:43:36,319 Speaker 2: But I know a lot of us are scared to yeah, 784 00:43:36,360 --> 00:43:40,439 Speaker 2: to be just really open and vulnerable because we're scared 785 00:43:40,480 --> 00:43:42,440 Speaker 2: of that feedback that we might receive. Not all that 786 00:43:42,560 --> 00:43:45,279 Speaker 2: is as sweet and as gentle and passionate as yours is. 787 00:43:45,400 --> 00:43:48,040 Speaker 1: So I'm grateful, which I think is very important. 788 00:43:47,600 --> 00:43:50,400 Speaker 2: Too on the receiving end. Who was filling me up? 789 00:43:50,719 --> 00:43:54,520 Speaker 3: Because some people do they don't have anyone to really 790 00:43:54,560 --> 00:43:58,960 Speaker 3: empty that out to, right And the I feel like 791 00:43:59,200 --> 00:44:00,920 Speaker 3: it's a good It's atin in the right direction for 792 00:44:01,000 --> 00:44:02,040 Speaker 3: me because I do know what I need. 793 00:44:03,000 --> 00:44:06,360 Speaker 2: I definitely do. I have to just and now that 794 00:44:06,400 --> 00:44:07,920 Speaker 2: I do know really what. 795 00:44:07,960 --> 00:44:09,400 Speaker 3: I work on what I need to work on, and 796 00:44:09,480 --> 00:44:11,919 Speaker 3: I speak it into existing like yo, I am really 797 00:44:11,960 --> 00:44:15,640 Speaker 3: insecure about something and this needs to happen for me 798 00:44:15,840 --> 00:44:18,880 Speaker 3: to get over it. So I'm trying to intervene on 799 00:44:19,040 --> 00:44:21,879 Speaker 3: my own mental issues because not only do I deserve 800 00:44:21,880 --> 00:44:23,759 Speaker 3: to be happy, but my kids deserve to see me 801 00:44:23,840 --> 00:44:24,279 Speaker 3: really happy. 802 00:44:24,560 --> 00:44:28,279 Speaker 1: Yeah, I agree. Now where's your ex fiance at now? 803 00:44:30,200 --> 00:44:31,040 Speaker 2: He is in prison? 804 00:44:31,880 --> 00:44:32,080 Speaker 3: Good? 805 00:44:33,040 --> 00:44:36,399 Speaker 2: Yeah, the State of Maryland press charges he was held 806 00:44:36,400 --> 00:44:40,239 Speaker 2: a out bond and he is there for quite some time. 807 00:44:42,160 --> 00:44:45,120 Speaker 2: And that's what I'm either going to trial. I could 808 00:44:45,160 --> 00:44:51,320 Speaker 2: not stand a trial due to a lot of stuff. 809 00:44:51,360 --> 00:44:53,400 Speaker 3: Actually I was not going to be able to stand trial. 810 00:44:53,520 --> 00:44:56,320 Speaker 3: I would not have been mentally cleared to stand trial. 811 00:44:56,760 --> 00:44:56,960 Speaker 1: Yeah. 812 00:44:59,480 --> 00:45:03,160 Speaker 3: So they came out with the plea and I said 813 00:45:03,239 --> 00:45:05,759 Speaker 3: no to the first one, but I said yes to 814 00:45:05,800 --> 00:45:08,160 Speaker 3: the second one. And what I liked about this was 815 00:45:08,360 --> 00:45:11,120 Speaker 3: it's twenty years by the way, but so it was 816 00:45:11,160 --> 00:45:14,920 Speaker 3: fourteen years in prison, five years proparation, no chance of parole, 817 00:45:16,160 --> 00:45:18,760 Speaker 3: and lifetime of never no contact. 818 00:45:21,960 --> 00:45:23,919 Speaker 2: So what I liked about this was that I still 819 00:45:24,000 --> 00:45:24,840 Speaker 2: did get to speak. 820 00:45:25,520 --> 00:45:29,840 Speaker 3: I did get to say my part and let everyone 821 00:45:29,920 --> 00:45:32,799 Speaker 3: know what type of person like he really was during 822 00:45:32,920 --> 00:45:36,719 Speaker 3: the hearing or during the plea hearing. Yes, right, And 823 00:45:36,840 --> 00:45:39,960 Speaker 3: I still got to protect my peace in a way 824 00:45:40,480 --> 00:45:45,520 Speaker 3: because the defense attorney was an asshole. And she was like, well, well, 825 00:45:45,600 --> 00:45:47,879 Speaker 3: she called me when I said no to the first 826 00:45:47,920 --> 00:45:49,680 Speaker 3: plea and was like, well, are you sure because you 827 00:45:49,760 --> 00:45:51,879 Speaker 3: know this is his first defense. So I'm like, yeah, 828 00:45:51,920 --> 00:45:54,840 Speaker 3: because this is the first time I'm actually doing something, 829 00:45:55,000 --> 00:45:57,000 Speaker 3: or that the police actually. 830 00:45:56,800 --> 00:45:58,480 Speaker 2: Stepped in and did something for the first time. 831 00:45:58,480 --> 00:46:00,120 Speaker 1: He probably to. 832 00:46:00,400 --> 00:46:01,920 Speaker 2: Agree to something lower. 833 00:46:01,960 --> 00:46:04,880 Speaker 3: And I knew that when I got on that stand 834 00:46:04,960 --> 00:46:06,560 Speaker 3: that she was going to throw so much at me 835 00:46:06,680 --> 00:46:09,279 Speaker 3: that I would have frozen, and I honestly probably would 836 00:46:09,280 --> 00:46:09,880 Speaker 3: have killed myself. 837 00:46:10,600 --> 00:46:11,360 Speaker 2: That I probably would have. 838 00:46:11,400 --> 00:46:14,600 Speaker 3: Left and killed myself because I know the type of 839 00:46:14,640 --> 00:46:16,640 Speaker 3: things that they do, and I would have felt guilty 840 00:46:16,680 --> 00:46:20,080 Speaker 3: about every little thing that I've done, and at that moment, 841 00:46:20,120 --> 00:46:20,759 Speaker 3: I already. 842 00:46:20,520 --> 00:46:21,160 Speaker 2: Did want to die. 843 00:46:21,640 --> 00:46:25,120 Speaker 1: So do you think he did this before? 844 00:46:26,960 --> 00:46:34,480 Speaker 2: Pas not too a partner. I don't know if I 845 00:46:34,520 --> 00:46:39,759 Speaker 2: can release to who they are. Technically I probably can't. 846 00:46:40,880 --> 00:46:42,719 Speaker 1: I kind out to have an idea what you going 847 00:46:42,760 --> 00:46:46,560 Speaker 1: to say? Yeah, And I'm assuming this person has came 848 00:46:46,640 --> 00:46:47,360 Speaker 1: out and said this. 849 00:46:49,600 --> 00:46:51,239 Speaker 2: They all have m. 850 00:46:53,440 --> 00:46:56,000 Speaker 1: So can you share any changes in your children's behavior 851 00:46:56,200 --> 00:46:58,600 Speaker 1: or like do they remember anything, or like. 852 00:46:59,760 --> 00:47:02,759 Speaker 3: My daughter just asked for him back the other day. 853 00:47:02,880 --> 00:47:08,160 Speaker 3: My youngest she remembers some, but she's blocked a lot 854 00:47:08,200 --> 00:47:10,399 Speaker 3: of it out. And I'm happy for that, right because 855 00:47:10,400 --> 00:47:12,719 Speaker 3: I don't want her growing up remembering those images. And 856 00:47:12,760 --> 00:47:14,640 Speaker 3: I don't bring it up. I do not say what 857 00:47:14,760 --> 00:47:17,680 Speaker 3: he did, and she's like, but you know, I know 858 00:47:17,760 --> 00:47:20,880 Speaker 3: he's sorry, he won't do it again. But again, too 859 00:47:21,000 --> 00:47:25,040 Speaker 3: young and to really understand, understand or process it. So 860 00:47:25,080 --> 00:47:26,560 Speaker 3: I'm not gonna be like, well, your dad did this 861 00:47:26,680 --> 00:47:29,480 Speaker 3: and he tried to kill me, and don't you remember. No, 862 00:47:29,600 --> 00:47:31,440 Speaker 3: I just be like, well, when people do bad things, 863 00:47:31,520 --> 00:47:33,840 Speaker 3: they go away, and I'm sorry that you're hurting, and 864 00:47:33,920 --> 00:47:35,279 Speaker 3: if you ever want to talk to me about it, 865 00:47:35,360 --> 00:47:36,080 Speaker 3: let's talk about it. 866 00:47:36,920 --> 00:47:38,120 Speaker 2: And that's what we do, right. 867 00:47:39,160 --> 00:47:41,200 Speaker 3: This is why I could never be a child therapist. 868 00:47:41,520 --> 00:47:46,360 Speaker 3: But I couldn't imagine having to hear the stories the 869 00:47:46,480 --> 00:47:53,120 Speaker 3: pain that the children bearer from domestic violence they've seen 870 00:47:53,160 --> 00:47:57,359 Speaker 3: their parents go through, and it's it's really hard. 871 00:47:58,360 --> 00:48:00,279 Speaker 2: I can't imagine. Really, I don't even know. 872 00:48:00,320 --> 00:48:02,719 Speaker 3: How hard it is for her, honestly, or how much 873 00:48:02,800 --> 00:48:05,800 Speaker 3: she really knows, and she's really trying to just protect herself. 874 00:48:07,880 --> 00:48:12,440 Speaker 3: I does remember he has nightmare still, please added house name. 875 00:48:12,440 --> 00:48:13,120 Speaker 2: I didn't realize this. 876 00:48:13,640 --> 00:48:16,040 Speaker 1: God, you don't worry about it. I'm sorry, don't worry 877 00:48:16,040 --> 00:48:18,200 Speaker 1: about keep going. I'm going to end out his name. 878 00:48:18,600 --> 00:48:18,840 Speaker 2: Thank you. 879 00:48:19,920 --> 00:48:25,360 Speaker 3: He has problems regulating his emotions, nightmares for sure, issues 880 00:48:25,400 --> 00:48:27,560 Speaker 3: with me leaving, like he always wants to know where 881 00:48:27,560 --> 00:48:29,320 Speaker 3: I am. Like, he feels like he has to protect 882 00:48:29,400 --> 00:48:31,600 Speaker 3: everybody now, like and I'm like, no, it's time for 883 00:48:31,680 --> 00:48:33,920 Speaker 3: you to be a kid now because there's no more danger. 884 00:48:34,280 --> 00:48:35,319 Speaker 2: You do not have to step up. 885 00:48:35,400 --> 00:48:39,480 Speaker 3: You are literally a child, like do children's stuff, and 886 00:48:39,719 --> 00:48:42,799 Speaker 3: you know everything's fine because I'm back now, I'm good, 887 00:48:43,480 --> 00:48:45,360 Speaker 3: and you do not have to carry any of that burden. 888 00:48:46,320 --> 00:48:47,960 Speaker 2: And so that's what he's doing now. He's learning how 889 00:48:47,960 --> 00:48:48,759 Speaker 2: to be a kid again. 890 00:48:48,920 --> 00:48:52,160 Speaker 3: And he's like, he's learning that the patterns and the 891 00:48:52,320 --> 00:48:55,560 Speaker 3: role that he's supposed to play in this family dynamic, 892 00:48:56,160 --> 00:49:02,440 Speaker 3: which is my son, not my emotional partner. I'm not 893 00:49:02,440 --> 00:49:06,360 Speaker 3: supposed to mostly depend on my children for anything. And 894 00:49:06,480 --> 00:49:09,200 Speaker 3: I don't want him to step into that role because 895 00:49:09,880 --> 00:49:12,839 Speaker 3: I'm now a single parent. I want him to stay 896 00:49:12,880 --> 00:49:16,880 Speaker 3: in that role that eas in just a child child development, 897 00:49:17,239 --> 00:49:19,520 Speaker 3: normal child development for as normal as it you know, 898 00:49:19,640 --> 00:49:20,080 Speaker 3: can be with. 899 00:49:20,120 --> 00:49:24,160 Speaker 2: All the trauma that he's experienced. But that's also a 900 00:49:24,239 --> 00:49:25,280 Speaker 2: generational curse. 901 00:49:25,080 --> 00:49:25,799 Speaker 1: That a lot of. 902 00:49:27,400 --> 00:49:29,720 Speaker 2: Women go through. And I don't want to make anyone 903 00:49:29,800 --> 00:49:32,920 Speaker 2: mad by saying that, but especially in the African American community, 904 00:49:33,000 --> 00:49:34,000 Speaker 2: we do this thing where. 905 00:49:34,440 --> 00:49:36,960 Speaker 3: Man leaves and then our sons become the king. And 906 00:49:37,239 --> 00:49:39,680 Speaker 3: it's just why most of the time, our sons are 907 00:49:39,719 --> 00:49:43,160 Speaker 3: still babies. Yeah, and it's like we're passing on the throne. 908 00:49:43,239 --> 00:49:46,279 Speaker 3: I get that, I get the idea behind it, but 909 00:49:46,400 --> 00:49:49,399 Speaker 3: at the end of the day, there's still just they're 910 00:49:49,400 --> 00:49:50,080 Speaker 3: still just kids. 911 00:49:50,320 --> 00:49:50,520 Speaker 2: Yeah. 912 00:49:51,200 --> 00:49:53,839 Speaker 1: Would you feel away if they were to eventually want 913 00:49:53,880 --> 00:49:56,319 Speaker 1: to have a relationship with him, they would never. 914 00:49:56,239 --> 00:50:01,600 Speaker 2: Have a relationship with him. I did permanent protective order. 915 00:50:02,360 --> 00:50:03,120 Speaker 2: He has no way. 916 00:50:03,320 --> 00:50:05,759 Speaker 3: There's no way, like even if they're eighteen, there's no 917 00:50:05,920 --> 00:50:07,800 Speaker 3: way that he would ever be able to have a 918 00:50:07,800 --> 00:50:11,520 Speaker 3: relationship with them, Okay, And I made like absolutely sure 919 00:50:11,560 --> 00:50:17,440 Speaker 3: about it. And if they want to, I mean, they 920 00:50:17,560 --> 00:50:19,799 Speaker 3: just might not like me for a while. I guess 921 00:50:19,960 --> 00:50:20,600 Speaker 3: that's just might not. 922 00:50:20,719 --> 00:50:22,640 Speaker 2: Like me for a while. That's it, you know, when 923 00:50:22,640 --> 00:50:26,320 Speaker 2: they're in the thirties and forties, I can't really I 924 00:50:26,400 --> 00:50:31,640 Speaker 2: can't do anything about that, right, but I can do 925 00:50:31,800 --> 00:50:35,400 Speaker 2: as for as long as I have that control, I 926 00:50:35,480 --> 00:50:38,760 Speaker 2: will make sure that you know that they're safe. 927 00:50:39,120 --> 00:50:43,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, how can we as a community support survivors of 928 00:50:43,440 --> 00:50:46,880 Speaker 1: balance and work towards preventing it in the future, Like, 929 00:50:47,000 --> 00:50:48,320 Speaker 1: what do you think we can do to stop it? 930 00:50:49,480 --> 00:50:51,360 Speaker 2: Ooh, therapy? 931 00:50:52,200 --> 00:50:54,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's the sad thing about it, Like this is 932 00:50:54,200 --> 00:50:58,640 Speaker 3: going to take There's so much intersectionality with this, so 933 00:50:58,800 --> 00:51:03,879 Speaker 3: there is no one answer, Like, domestic violence is more 934 00:51:03,960 --> 00:51:06,719 Speaker 3: than just black and white and gray, Like even the 935 00:51:06,800 --> 00:51:10,320 Speaker 3: gray area is not enough to cover the spectrum of 936 00:51:10,440 --> 00:51:15,480 Speaker 3: mental illness, of detachment, of family disorder that is in 937 00:51:15,640 --> 00:51:19,080 Speaker 3: that umbrella of domestic violence, because there had to be 938 00:51:19,239 --> 00:51:22,560 Speaker 3: something that triggered it cognitively, there had to be something 939 00:51:22,600 --> 00:51:23,560 Speaker 3: to trigger that responds. 940 00:51:25,360 --> 00:51:27,560 Speaker 2: So due to that, there is like so many different 941 00:51:27,760 --> 00:51:30,399 Speaker 2: aspects of it. For one, I believe that the ones 942 00:51:30,480 --> 00:51:32,520 Speaker 2: that do are caught. 943 00:51:33,080 --> 00:51:36,840 Speaker 3: I don't think that the victims should be able to 944 00:51:36,960 --> 00:51:40,080 Speaker 3: drop the charges when there is enough evidence. I do 945 00:51:40,280 --> 00:51:44,320 Speaker 3: believe that there should be an automatic protective order in 946 00:51:44,440 --> 00:51:45,240 Speaker 3: place immediately. 947 00:51:45,400 --> 00:51:47,600 Speaker 2: This is how people die. I'm sorry, I said women, 948 00:51:48,120 --> 00:51:49,280 Speaker 2: men or women? People? 949 00:51:50,840 --> 00:51:54,400 Speaker 3: Yes, people, individuals. I don't believe that they should have 950 00:51:54,520 --> 00:51:57,960 Speaker 3: the ability to drop it. And the reason why is 951 00:51:58,680 --> 00:52:03,279 Speaker 3: because they get something happens. Person goes to jail, they 952 00:52:03,400 --> 00:52:06,680 Speaker 3: drop it, charges, drop something happened, Person goes to del 953 00:52:08,239 --> 00:52:11,680 Speaker 3: charges charges, then't drop something happened. The person dies. 954 00:52:12,400 --> 00:52:16,920 Speaker 2: Right. That's the only time the charges stick is when 955 00:52:17,000 --> 00:52:18,520 Speaker 2: you can't fight them anymore. Right. 956 00:52:21,600 --> 00:52:26,000 Speaker 3: I also think like mandatory counseling needs to be available 957 00:52:26,080 --> 00:52:29,840 Speaker 3: for the ones that do get caught and have to 958 00:52:29,920 --> 00:52:30,359 Speaker 3: go to jail. 959 00:52:30,440 --> 00:52:33,040 Speaker 2: I think there should be higher penalties. Why the fuck 960 00:52:33,120 --> 00:52:35,400 Speaker 2: is it a misdemeanor? Crazy? 961 00:52:35,480 --> 00:52:37,120 Speaker 3: They tried it for this, they try to charge them 962 00:52:37,160 --> 00:52:41,960 Speaker 3: with one felony and one misdemeanor. Wow, Felanie understood. 963 00:52:42,040 --> 00:52:43,440 Speaker 1: What a misdemeanor of. 964 00:52:45,239 --> 00:52:50,120 Speaker 3: And it was crazy murder yeah. The first charge was 965 00:52:50,160 --> 00:52:54,320 Speaker 3: attempted murder yeah. And also a challenge misdemeanor in challenge 966 00:52:54,400 --> 00:52:57,560 Speaker 3: dangerment yeah, and then three counts of childe endangerment yeah. 967 00:52:57,880 --> 00:53:00,360 Speaker 3: And I was just like, okay, so the murder of 968 00:53:00,400 --> 00:53:03,000 Speaker 3: course is going to stick, But why the misdemeanor, Like 969 00:53:03,080 --> 00:53:07,440 Speaker 3: why would y'all? They need to make it so undesirable 970 00:53:07,840 --> 00:53:11,440 Speaker 3: that people are forced to change because unfortunately a lot 971 00:53:11,520 --> 00:53:14,359 Speaker 3: of abusers are narcissists and the only thing. The only 972 00:53:14,400 --> 00:53:16,239 Speaker 3: way that they will change if they know that it's 973 00:53:16,280 --> 00:53:19,880 Speaker 3: going to impact them and force them to. Yeah, So 974 00:53:21,360 --> 00:53:24,720 Speaker 3: like higher penalties for this. Domestic violence should off bucks 975 00:53:24,880 --> 00:53:27,279 Speaker 3: be a felony, like it should be a fell in 976 00:53:27,400 --> 00:53:35,600 Speaker 3: charge and it's not. There should be more counseling, shelters, 977 00:53:35,719 --> 00:53:42,399 Speaker 3: rescue places, mobile emergency services, help with sneaking people out, 978 00:53:42,719 --> 00:53:44,360 Speaker 3: kid arrangements for things like this. 979 00:53:44,840 --> 00:53:46,480 Speaker 2: There should be so much. 980 00:53:48,920 --> 00:53:53,440 Speaker 3: Different things that are in place because of it, Like 981 00:53:53,480 --> 00:53:55,560 Speaker 3: I said, because of the intersectionality, and because it does 982 00:53:55,719 --> 00:53:59,440 Speaker 3: take so much to escape. Attackers are usually not just violent, 983 00:54:00,000 --> 00:54:03,520 Speaker 3: but they're verbally abusive, they're financially abusive, and all of 984 00:54:03,600 --> 00:54:10,080 Speaker 3: these types of violence are fatal, like sex abuse, die 985 00:54:10,320 --> 00:54:13,920 Speaker 3: from anything from any of these It can literally drive 986 00:54:14,000 --> 00:54:17,680 Speaker 3: someone to just killing themselves because they can't handle it anymore. 987 00:54:18,680 --> 00:54:20,640 Speaker 2: So there needs to be a lot of things in place, 988 00:54:20,719 --> 00:54:21,760 Speaker 2: and it's swept under. 989 00:54:21,640 --> 00:54:24,279 Speaker 3: The rug and they do these campaigns and say, well, 990 00:54:24,320 --> 00:54:26,960 Speaker 3: the money's going here and the money's going there, and 991 00:54:27,040 --> 00:54:29,040 Speaker 3: then when we asked to see where the money was 992 00:54:29,120 --> 00:54:31,960 Speaker 3: put into, we don't really see anything. 993 00:54:32,440 --> 00:54:36,080 Speaker 2: Right, So that's that was a long answer. 994 00:54:36,120 --> 00:54:40,560 Speaker 3: I'm sorry, but like so much on the community level, 995 00:54:41,440 --> 00:54:43,240 Speaker 3: we can do support groups for victims. 996 00:54:43,360 --> 00:54:45,200 Speaker 1: I would just about to say that we can. 997 00:54:45,120 --> 00:54:49,480 Speaker 3: Look out for neighbors. I know that especially again in 998 00:54:49,560 --> 00:54:52,520 Speaker 3: our community, we don't. We like to mind our business 999 00:54:52,760 --> 00:54:54,600 Speaker 3: like that's just how we were raised, what we were taught. 1000 00:54:55,200 --> 00:54:57,440 Speaker 3: But some things that we should just not ignore. And 1001 00:54:57,560 --> 00:54:59,320 Speaker 3: again that's a whole nother fear that a lot of 1002 00:54:59,360 --> 00:55:02,200 Speaker 3: people face is when they get involved, what happens to them? 1003 00:55:02,520 --> 00:55:05,759 Speaker 3: And that's a valid fear. Yeah, And there definitely needs 1004 00:55:05,800 --> 00:55:10,000 Speaker 3: to be more local police support and outreads to these 1005 00:55:10,080 --> 00:55:13,080 Speaker 3: things because there's too many lives being lost due to 1006 00:55:13,840 --> 00:55:16,320 Speaker 3: something that could have easily been prevented. 1007 00:55:16,680 --> 00:55:19,240 Speaker 1: Right, And there also need to be more open conversations 1008 00:55:19,280 --> 00:55:23,160 Speaker 1: about this fact. Yeah, I think that we need to 1009 00:55:24,320 --> 00:55:27,759 Speaker 1: definitely be more vocal about this so you know, we 1010 00:55:27,880 --> 00:55:29,879 Speaker 1: don't have to keep having these conversations. 1011 00:55:30,480 --> 00:55:30,680 Speaker 2: Yeah. 1012 00:55:31,680 --> 00:55:35,120 Speaker 1: Yeah. And last, but not least, is there any advice 1013 00:55:35,440 --> 00:55:37,560 Speaker 1: that you would like to share with others who may 1014 00:55:37,640 --> 00:55:42,000 Speaker 1: have experienced a similar situation or if someone is concerned 1015 00:55:42,360 --> 00:55:48,440 Speaker 1: about someone who has ooh, so. 1016 00:55:48,719 --> 00:55:51,360 Speaker 3: The advice for anyone who has experienced some things similar 1017 00:55:51,680 --> 00:55:54,840 Speaker 3: or it's still and well, if anyone is still in 1018 00:55:55,280 --> 00:55:58,600 Speaker 3: a situation like this, I would advise that they work 1019 00:55:58,800 --> 00:56:02,239 Speaker 3: towards an escape plan because the cycle does not end. 1020 00:56:02,520 --> 00:56:06,080 Speaker 3: There may be years in between, it could be a 1021 00:56:06,120 --> 00:56:07,600 Speaker 3: decade in between, actually, but. 1022 00:56:07,760 --> 00:56:10,200 Speaker 2: The cycle does not end. And for people who have 1023 00:56:10,280 --> 00:56:13,560 Speaker 2: already experienced this are still growing from it. 1024 00:56:15,239 --> 00:56:19,920 Speaker 3: Talk to someone or find a hobby, do a diary, therapy, 1025 00:56:20,239 --> 00:56:23,600 Speaker 3: any type of thing that keeps you, like mentally grounded 1026 00:56:23,680 --> 00:56:27,160 Speaker 3: and understanding, like your worth is everything, and that you're 1027 00:56:27,360 --> 00:56:31,120 Speaker 3: not a victim anymore. You are a survivor. You've survived it, 1028 00:56:31,400 --> 00:56:33,919 Speaker 3: and the next step is to just keep going, even 1029 00:56:33,960 --> 00:56:35,839 Speaker 3: if that is just like one day at a time, 1030 00:56:36,000 --> 00:56:38,880 Speaker 3: sometimes one minute at a time and one second at 1031 00:56:38,920 --> 00:56:39,200 Speaker 3: a time. 1032 00:56:39,239 --> 00:56:41,879 Speaker 2: But as long as you get through it, it'll be better. 1033 00:56:42,360 --> 00:56:46,080 Speaker 1: Right And on a positive note, speaking in light of 1034 00:56:46,200 --> 00:56:50,839 Speaker 1: keep going, my guess is getting her NBA. So I'm 1035 00:56:50,960 --> 00:56:54,120 Speaker 1: super proud of you. And where are you getting get NBA? 1036 00:56:54,280 --> 00:56:59,480 Speaker 2: In ya want to say, I do not want to 1037 00:56:59,520 --> 00:57:00,960 Speaker 2: disclose any information. 1038 00:57:01,040 --> 00:57:03,160 Speaker 1: I'll tell you like you know, okay, well you told me, 1039 00:57:03,200 --> 00:57:04,600 Speaker 1: But I just want to share because I want to 1040 00:57:04,640 --> 00:57:07,440 Speaker 1: get people, let them know that there is light at 1041 00:57:07,480 --> 00:57:08,240 Speaker 1: the end of the tunnel. 1042 00:57:09,719 --> 00:57:13,879 Speaker 3: There definitely is, and I wish I was comfortable because 1043 00:57:13,880 --> 00:57:15,920 Speaker 3: I know the information that I could share, like it's 1044 00:57:15,960 --> 00:57:20,040 Speaker 3: safe to share. Like I understand it's safe to share. However, 1045 00:57:21,280 --> 00:57:26,080 Speaker 3: it's just so much things going through mentally that it is. 1046 00:57:26,520 --> 00:57:29,600 Speaker 3: It changes the way I see, Like, yeah. 1047 00:57:29,520 --> 00:57:32,440 Speaker 1: Listen, if you're not comfortable, there's nothing wrong with that. 1048 00:57:32,560 --> 00:57:34,720 Speaker 1: But I just want to let people know, like you're 1049 00:57:34,760 --> 00:57:35,560 Speaker 1: doing a damn thing. 1050 00:57:36,560 --> 00:57:38,400 Speaker 2: And I got three point seven GPA. I took no 1051 00:57:38,600 --> 00:57:39,560 Speaker 2: breaks from this. Come on. 1052 00:57:40,000 --> 00:57:43,000 Speaker 3: I literally stayed in school this whole time and then 1053 00:57:43,320 --> 00:57:46,560 Speaker 3: actually changed my concentration to trauma crisis. 1054 00:57:46,640 --> 00:57:48,200 Speaker 2: It was addictions at first. 1055 00:57:48,600 --> 00:57:51,120 Speaker 3: And I was like, I'm gonna help some people, like 1056 00:57:51,160 --> 00:57:55,680 Speaker 3: I really want to work with a specific population minority 1057 00:57:55,760 --> 00:57:57,960 Speaker 3: is actually I want to work in poverty, stricten areas, 1058 00:57:58,040 --> 00:57:59,959 Speaker 3: areas that have high crime. 1059 00:58:00,000 --> 00:58:01,439 Speaker 2: I'm high domestic violent raids. 1060 00:58:01,800 --> 00:58:04,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, and really put myself and because I can talk 1061 00:58:04,520 --> 00:58:06,720 Speaker 3: about it all I want, you know, I can tell 1062 00:58:06,760 --> 00:58:10,120 Speaker 3: my story to everybody, but that doesn't reach everybody. 1063 00:58:10,440 --> 00:58:16,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, so that's that's the plan. Well. 1064 00:58:16,840 --> 00:58:19,240 Speaker 1: I thought this was an amazing conversation. I am so 1065 00:58:19,400 --> 00:58:21,400 Speaker 1: happy that I kept dming you. 1066 00:58:22,240 --> 00:58:22,920 Speaker 2: No, thank you. 1067 00:58:23,040 --> 00:58:25,080 Speaker 3: I am so sorry and I appreciate you giving me 1068 00:58:25,160 --> 00:58:28,080 Speaker 3: space because when I said, like, mentally, I couldn't do 1069 00:58:28,160 --> 00:58:31,120 Speaker 3: it after that first one I did, I didn't expect 1070 00:58:31,240 --> 00:58:32,360 Speaker 3: what I was getting back. 1071 00:58:32,960 --> 00:58:35,440 Speaker 2: And that's also a reason why, like I had to. 1072 00:58:35,440 --> 00:58:38,160 Speaker 3: Deactivate some stuff because it was so much of it 1073 00:58:38,280 --> 00:58:39,960 Speaker 3: and it was so much overload for me and I 1074 00:58:40,040 --> 00:58:43,280 Speaker 3: was freaking out. And but you were the only one 1075 00:58:43,400 --> 00:58:48,840 Speaker 3: that was like, yeah, just let me know. And you know, 1076 00:58:49,080 --> 00:58:51,440 Speaker 3: when you did message me, it was like are you okay? 1077 00:58:51,640 --> 00:58:55,600 Speaker 3: Like you became like a friend in a way, and 1078 00:58:55,680 --> 00:58:58,200 Speaker 3: I appreciated that because I needed that and you did 1079 00:58:58,280 --> 00:59:01,640 Speaker 3: not rush my response and it was so kind and thoughtful. 1080 00:59:01,680 --> 00:59:02,600 Speaker 2: Could I still thank you? 1081 00:59:02,760 --> 00:59:05,440 Speaker 3: That's people that I know if I were to reactivate 1082 00:59:05,520 --> 00:59:07,240 Speaker 3: it after telling them I'm that it was from my 1083 00:59:07,320 --> 00:59:09,680 Speaker 3: mental health, so it'll be like, oh, but we'll pay 1084 00:59:09,720 --> 00:59:10,080 Speaker 3: you for this. 1085 00:59:11,480 --> 00:59:17,360 Speaker 2: And it's like, well, you know it's sad. Yeah, it's 1086 00:59:17,360 --> 00:59:18,200 Speaker 2: actually really sad. 1087 00:59:18,360 --> 00:59:20,360 Speaker 1: No, I care about your mental health. I feel like 1088 00:59:20,440 --> 00:59:23,000 Speaker 1: you are you are a reflection of me. So once 1089 00:59:23,080 --> 00:59:24,280 Speaker 1: you said that, I'm like, you know what, let me 1090 00:59:24,320 --> 00:59:26,240 Speaker 1: just get from some space, make sure she good, and 1091 00:59:26,320 --> 00:59:28,520 Speaker 1: when the time was right, it would happen. 1092 00:59:29,360 --> 00:59:30,680 Speaker 2: Yes, And that's what you did. And I came back 1093 00:59:30,680 --> 00:59:31,640 Speaker 2: and I was like, right, I'm sorry. 1094 00:59:32,600 --> 00:59:34,280 Speaker 1: And when you said that, I was like, wait, so 1095 00:59:34,440 --> 00:59:38,520 Speaker 1: she's gonna do it because it just came out of nowhere, Like. 1096 00:59:38,760 --> 00:59:41,040 Speaker 2: I did some intense therapy, I'm telling you, Like I 1097 00:59:41,160 --> 00:59:44,120 Speaker 2: was in that, I was really trying to figure it out. 1098 00:59:44,240 --> 00:59:48,120 Speaker 3: And it took my neighbor. Talking to my neighbor who 1099 00:59:48,240 --> 00:59:51,680 Speaker 3: was like, do you know many people you could touch 1100 00:59:51,760 --> 00:59:53,680 Speaker 3: with this and do it? 1101 00:59:53,720 --> 00:59:56,480 Speaker 1: I was like, all right, your story. One of the 1102 00:59:56,600 --> 00:59:59,240 Speaker 1: things I said about professional homegirls is you just never 1103 00:59:59,400 --> 01:00:03,000 Speaker 1: know how your storyline can be someone else's lifeline. And 1104 01:00:03,640 --> 01:00:06,040 Speaker 1: I know for a fact you are a blessing man. 1105 01:00:06,240 --> 01:00:09,240 Speaker 1: When people see you and hear your stories, I can 1106 01:00:09,320 --> 01:00:11,200 Speaker 1: only imagine how far this is gonna take you. 1107 01:00:12,200 --> 01:00:15,120 Speaker 2: Thank you, And you are a blessing as well. You 1108 01:00:15,280 --> 01:00:16,240 Speaker 2: are doing the God. 1109 01:00:16,360 --> 01:00:19,280 Speaker 3: You are doing God's work, like you're giving people a 1110 01:00:19,400 --> 01:00:24,960 Speaker 3: platform to speak about things like this, and that's commendable. 1111 01:00:25,120 --> 01:00:29,000 Speaker 3: That takes an incredible amount of strength, and it puts 1112 01:00:30,040 --> 01:00:32,400 Speaker 3: a burden on you to an extent as well, not 1113 01:00:32,520 --> 01:00:35,280 Speaker 3: sharing the story, but you know, sharing in that trauma 1114 01:00:35,520 --> 01:00:38,040 Speaker 3: in the moment, and then you know that's something that 1115 01:00:38,160 --> 01:00:40,320 Speaker 3: you carry with you, but you are able to find 1116 01:00:40,320 --> 01:00:41,480 Speaker 3: the strength of be like you know what. 1117 01:00:41,920 --> 01:00:44,480 Speaker 2: These people need this too, and I appreciate that. I 1118 01:00:44,560 --> 01:00:44,800 Speaker 2: love that. 1119 01:00:45,080 --> 01:00:47,240 Speaker 1: Thank you, thank you. No, I appreciate you, and I'm 1120 01:00:47,280 --> 01:00:49,120 Speaker 1: so happy we connect it and we're gonna stay in touch. 1121 01:00:49,440 --> 01:00:51,320 Speaker 1: And if anybody want to help my listener, I normally 1122 01:00:51,360 --> 01:00:53,360 Speaker 1: don't do this, but it is on my heart. Y'all 1123 01:00:53,400 --> 01:00:56,560 Speaker 1: want to help my listener with her medical bills, please 1124 01:00:56,720 --> 01:00:59,640 Speaker 1: dm me, email me a hello at the PhD podcast 1125 01:00:59,680 --> 01:01:03,160 Speaker 1: dot To my guests, thank you so much. We're gonna 1126 01:01:03,160 --> 01:01:05,960 Speaker 1: definitely keep in contact. I'm gonna definitely have you paint 1127 01:01:06,040 --> 01:01:09,440 Speaker 1: me something that she's an amazing artist. And to the listeners, 1128 01:01:09,480 --> 01:01:11,600 Speaker 1: if you have any questions coming some concerns, please make 1129 01:01:11,640 --> 01:01:14,480 Speaker 1: sure to email me and hello at the psgpodcast dot com. 1130 01:01:15,120 --> 01:01:22,200 Speaker 1: And until next time, everyone Later you're not gonna say bye. 1131 01:01:22,600 --> 01:01:23,520 Speaker 2: I'm sorry bye. 1132 01:01:31,800 --> 01:01:34,880 Speaker 1: The Professional Homegirl Podcast is a production of the Black 1133 01:01:34,920 --> 01:01:38,880 Speaker 1: Effect Podcast Network. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the 1134 01:01:38,920 --> 01:01:42,120 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your 1135 01:01:42,160 --> 01:01:45,200 Speaker 1: favorite shows. Don't forget to subscribe and rate the show, 1136 01:01:45,520 --> 01:01:47,920 Speaker 1: and you can connect with me on social media at 1137 01:01:48,000 --> 01:01:49,240 Speaker 1: the PhD Podcast