During our marriage, I was so terrified of my ex-husband that I walked around our house clutching my phone at all times. I contacted the Domestic Violence Hotline and worked on a safety plan. There were times he wouldn’t allow me to talk to or hug our children. He trapped me and my children in a room while he kicked walls, knocked over furniture, and screamed profanities at me – all because I was comforting my daughter who was recovering from surgery and he didn’t want me near her. He told me I was crazy, delusional, irrational, unsupportive, vindictive, and needed medication. My ex’s standing joke with our children was that some day they were going to have to visit me at the “facility” – a mental institution. He told me if I would just back down, everything would be fine.
Despite being a well-educated, successful, middle class woman from an affluent county, I had absolutely no idea that I was in an abusive relationship. I was completely broken, convinced that I was hopelessly unlovable and defective and that everything was my fault. My counselor helped me realize that I was in an abusive relationship and I credit him with saving my life. SamaraCare and the Silent Samaritans allowed me to continue to see my counselor during a very contentious two year custody battle as my ex told the Guardian ad Litem that I was mentally ill and threatened to take my children away from me. In what can only be described as a miracle, my counselor’s guidance and support helped me truly love and accept myself during this most challenging season of my life. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” I have been transformed from fearful to strong. From paralyzed to emboldened. From hopeless to optimistic. From victim to empowered. The butterfly effect of SamaraCare’s support of me cannot be quantitatively measured, but I am honored to witness its far reaching influences every single day.
I am now better equipped to help my children as they continue to process and heal. Our home is calm and safe, filled with laughter and joy and play and giggles and smiles and hugs and kisses. Beyond my children, my journey of healing and growth has positively impacted the lives of my friends, family, and co-workers. I would not be the person I am today without these experiences and without my counselor’s guidance and support. God continues to work all things out for my family’s good, and certainly does so through generous donors like you. (Romans 8:28).
I cannot express the depth of my gratitude. Please know that your contributions are profoundly
impacting lives.
Everyday, people like Diana reach out to SamaraCare for life changing mental health care. Thanks to your support last year, we provided nearly $625,000 dollars in fee subsidy assistance to over 520 households through our Mental Health Access Program. However, the demand for fee subsidy assistance continues to outpace our limited pool of funding. Your donation is critical to ensure those struggling emotionally and financially receive the care they need and deserve.
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