Survivor Success Stories

The following women have been honored with the Purple Heart with Hope award as a tribute to domestic violence survivors who transformed their life through empowerment, courage and determination. The annual designation is awarded to former PADV clients at its Hearts with Hope gala held in February.

Myrtice Myricks:
First PADV Purple Heart with Hope Honoree, February 2005

Myrtice Myricks has double dimples - two on each side - and they make her smile twice as contagious. She is tall, lovely and joyous. She is free from violence. She is free from physical, sexual, psychological and economic abuse. Above all, she is free from fear. She has survived, but she has chosen not to be free from her past. Rather, she is using her past and her profound empathy to help other women escape domestic violence and for some, like Myrtice, the triangular hold of domestic violence, drug abuse and homelessness.

There was a dream in the beginning. "It was like Cinderella, you know? I wanted the white picket fence, someone to take care of me, someone for me to love, someone to love me," she said.

Then there was the reality. "We were staying in an abandoned building. There was nothing; we were using the bathroom in a coffee tin. Can you believe that?" she asked, her voice as incredulous as her words.

There were other dreams too, followed by more reality. "I could have had a dance scholarship to Spelman. My mother would have loved that." "Some nights I was afraid to move. I was afraid I would wake him up and he would beat me. And when he left, I never knew how he was going to act when he came back. Should I be quiet? Should I be happy? I would ask myself, 'What would set him off?' The drugs numbed the pain."

Tears well up in her eyes, but there is no hint of self-pity on her proud face. It is as if the tears are pure power - fuel for the life of purpose she now leads. "Now that I'm clean and sober, not homeless and not abused, it's all so clear to me. When you walk out of denial, it's a whole new world."

Myrtice's "whole new world" consists of: a safe, peaceful and pleasant home; a strong and loving relationship with her higher power and her family; her work at the Mary Hall Freedom House, a residential substance abuse treatment facility for women; her volunteer work at PADV, and her education.

"PADV came to the Mary Hall Freedom House while I was a client there. When this lady stepped in the room and started talking about abuse, I felt like she had stepped in my shoes. I actually thought Iwas unique," she said, laughing. "That was when I realized that I had been abused. Before that, I thought it was normal. I believed the things he said. When somebody tells you the same thing over and over, you begin to believe [it]. Do you know, one time I actually sat in the same spot downtown in a park - in pouring rain - the entire day, waiting for him? He told me not to leave, so I was afraid he might walk up, or ride by and not see me exactly where he told me to stay. I wouldn't even get under any shelter. He smacked me in public - in the park. Nobody stopped him. I was afraid to even look at a policeman."

While in treatment at the Mary Hall Freedom House, Myrtice enrolled in PADV's Transitional Housing program that helps bridge the gap between shelter living and independent living. "The program is awesome. They helped me get my first apartment - with my name on the lease. And it was freely given."

Myrtice is studying to be a Certified Addiction Counselor and hopes to get a Master's Degree. Eventually, she would like to open her own treatment center for women.

Santrella Davis:
Second PADV Purple Heart with Hope Honoree, February 2005

I met my abuser when I was 19 years old.   We had the typical romantic courtship like most.   At first he treated me like a queen, then 6 months into the relationship the abuse began.   Embarrassed by the injuries and black eyes, I would hide the abuse with baggy clothes and excessive make-up.  

When I was eight months pregnant with our son , my abuser asked me to help him rake our lawn.   When I voiced that I didn't feel up to it, he hit me in the face with the rake.  

I have been beaten, robbed of my money, and isolated from my friends and family. I had to tell him where I was going and why.   On one occasion, I visited my grandmother for lunch, and I didn't tell him.   He drove by and saw my car and called me outside.   He punched me in the mouth and burst my lip.   I called the police.   An officer came and spoke to me while my mouth was bleeding, but he was not arrested.

I called the police on several occasions, and never once was he arrested for beating me. Finally the police got tired of me calling and threatened to arrest us both if they had to come back.   At this point I felt that I had no options and had no other recourse.

But then I contacted PADV. They helped me when no else would.   They gave me the resources I needed to help keep me and my children safe.   They invited me and my children to attend a support group and offered us a place to stay.   My children and I have been safe and free from his abuse for 4 years.   Thank you, PADV, for all your help and support.

San Davis

Nikki Cureton:
Third PADV Purple Heart with Hope Honoree February 2006

Nikki Cureton is tall and elegant, with bright eyes and high cheekbones that inspire envy.    Beauty and personality radiate through her dazzling smile -- a smile that PADV helped restore.

Twelve years ago, Nikki met a man through a mutual friend. After their second child together, things started to change.

"He tried to shut me out from the world," Nikki said as she described the abuses that ensued from her batterer. She enrolled in college but soon encountered impediments: her car wouldn't start, or the garage door would be locked, and her partner would have the opener with him at work. Nikki began taking the bus and train.

When her batterer's transportation hurdles failed to stop Nikki, he took away her cell phone and surreptitiously unplugged the home phone. He made her keep the blinds closed and isolated her from her friends and family. Jealous of the attention she lavished on their children, he would scream at the kids to leave them alone. Before long, the children were afraid to show affection of any kind.

Nikki dropped first out of school and then out of life. One evening, desperate to talk to her mom, she snuck in the bathroom with her batterer's cell phone. He kicked the door down and punched her in the face in front of the children. When she woke up, he blamed her for making him hit her.

"That was the first and last time my kids would ever see him hit me. This is not how I wanted to live my life. The next day we moved to a PADV shelter," Nikki related.

Determination and tenacity became second nature to Nikki. She returned to school, graduating from Georgia Medical Institute. Today Nikki works with AIDGwinnett as a medication manager and is pursuing her bachelor's degree in public health.

Nikki is also enrolled in PADV's Face to Face ® , a life-altering program that repairs facial and dental injuries resulting from domestic abuse. She has new temporary partials and is scheduled to receive implants, all at no cost.

  "I love the skin I'm in now. I feel vibrant, alive and in control. And best of all, my kids and I share hugs and kisses every day," Nikki shared, her resplendent smile exuding hope and confidence.

Laura's Story
The following is a former client's true story of her experience with PADV. To protect her and her children we have changed their names.

One December night, Laura called PADV's crisis line. Frightened for her safety, she and her five-year-old daughter and nine-year-old son needed immediate shelter to escape from her husband's abuse. Laura confided in Susan, the crisis line advocate on duty explaining how for years, her husband controlled, harassed and battered her, telling her what clothes to wear, how to style her hair and when to be home.

Because she was "too proud' to tell anyone about the terror in which she lived, Laura endured years of beatings and sleepless nights when her husband would yell at her for hours at a time, hitting her when she dozed off. Severely sleep deprived, Laura frequently arrived at work bruised and exhausted, unable to perform her work duties without error. Economically controlled, Laura constantly needed to spend her salary to repair her car, which her husband damaged in many ways, including secretly putting sugar in the gas tank.

One day, Laura's work supervisor gently expressed her concern about the errors that Laura was making. Crying, Laura admitted that her husband had beaten her, and revealed a blackened eye that had become infected from a recent beating. A coworker who volunteered for a domestic violence shelter urged Laura to reveal her secret and call PADV's crisis line.

Her children, Elise and Donnie, eagerly participated in PADV's childrens' programs. Elise enjoyed the art projects, videos, and group meetings with other children. Donnie liked to be a helper, offering to assist the children's program coordinator with projects. Both children enjoyed the friendships they developed with other children. As Donnie told Laura, "I'm glad we're here, Mommy. Because I didn't want you to get hurt any more."

Three months later, they moved into their own home, thanks to a local church's generous donations to PADV. Today, the family is "doing well." Laura kept her job, and recently received a promotion. Donnie and Elise have adjusted and continue to progress, says Laura. "I feel that now I can help someone else who is hurting. Without PADV, I couldn't have done it."

Kay's Story

I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the help you've given me. I have gone to many agencies asking for help for my kids and myself. Our situation lately has been the worst I've ever been through in life. Unfortunately, my self-esteem and self worth were brought down even more by those I asked to help us.

That was not the case with your agency.

Heather was very professional and easy to talk to. She didn't make me feel bad about my situation; instead, she was very encouraging. It has been very hard to talk about my depressing past relationship because I felt like an idiot for what I let myself and my kids go through, but with Heather there was no painful ridicule, and she didn't look down on me. Instead, she let me know I was talking to someone who would help. She also gave me information that has helped me protect my family.

I hate to admit this, but after so many months (9 to be exact) of trying to receive financial assistance and constant rejection, I felt the only thing to do was go back to my abusive ex-boyfriend, something that I thought I would never do after all the fear and pain he put me through. But my kids badly needed food and a place to stay. I would have done that and anything else for them. They are my world and I thank God for them everyday. The doctors told me years ago that with Sickle Cell Anemia I would never be able to have children and live, especially since my prosthetic hips would make it more complicated. So every morning that I wake to their smiles, hugs and kisses is a very blessed day for me.

Fortunately, your organization saved my family from that terribly wrong decision that may have been fatal. You have made a positive impact in my family's life, like a Guardian Angel, when everything looked so negative and hopeless for us. Words cannot express our gratitude well enough! My boys and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all your help.

Sincerely,
Kay