Domestic Violence

My little sister today.  She is such an inspiration.  14 years ago, she suffered at the hands of a man who left her within inches of her life.  She has shared her story of domestic violence with others so that they can GET OUT!  She stayed with a man who abused her and this is what happened......

She was with a man who physically abused her.....she tried to make it work because they had a 6 month old son and was pregnant with another child.  One night, he decided that he was going to cut the baby out of her stomach.  She fought him back; he beat her badly and stabbed her in the heart.  She managed to escape and ran out the front door....shirtless because he had ripped her shirt off.  She made it to the neighbor's porch, knocked and passed out.  Thankfully, they immediately called 911.  Her lungs collapsed.  She had 4 chest tubes and was life flighted to have emergency open heart surgery twice.  She lost the baby she was carrying.  She got a blood clot in her leg and developed foot drop.  The doctor told me to say goodbye to my little sister.  That was the worst moment I have experienced in my life.  Seeing my little sister like this....I couldn't imagine her suffering. 
She has ALWAYS been strong-willed and a fighter.  She fought her way back!  She went through months of physical therapy.  There was no way she was giving up!!!  She needed to be there for her son, Tre.

That's Tre on the left!!  She had another son, Gage.  (On the right)

14 years later, she finds out that there is a hole in her heart.  She can't work, can't exercise (which is her form of a stress reliever), can't lift over 5 pounds.  And, on top of that, has to find a way to deal with the possibility of open heart surgery again.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiac_surgery
We don't know what's in the future.  Further testing is being done.....
In her mind, this man is hurting her all over again.  My heart aches for her. 
I know she wouldn't mind me sharing her story because she shares it. 

If you know someone who is suffering at the hands of another, help them get out!  If you are suffering at the hands of another, GET OUT!! Just because it isn't this bad, doesn't mean it won't be.  Domestic violence is real and it is wrong.  There is help out there!  SAFETY ALERT: If you are in danger, please call 911, your local hotline, or (in the U.S.) the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or
TTY 1-800-787-3224

Please remember my little sister in your prayers.  She is a daughter, a sister, a friend, a mother, a child of God, an aunt, a blessing to others and a SURVIVOR!!