MY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MISSION

From Surviving Abuse to Helping Others Recognize, Resist & Recover

My domestic violence journey changed me.

For a long time, I thought the hardest part was what happened to me.

I eventually realized that the

 

part was understanding what had happened to me, within me, and around me—and learning how to rebuild the woman I had become.

Domestic violence is not always a black eye.

Sometimes it looks like control.

Sometimes it looks like manipulation.

Sometimes it sounds like constant criticism, intimidation, threats, humiliation, isolation, financial control, or being made to question your own reality.

Sometimes the abuse is hidden so well that the person experiencing it doesn't even have the language to explain what is happening.

And sometimes, by the time you recognize it, you have already lost pieces of yourself trying to survive it.

MY MISSION

My mission is to educate, empower, and support individuals affected by domestic violence while helping create greater awareness about the patterns of abuse, the impact of trauma, and the possibilities of healing and rebuilding.

I want people to understand that abuse is not simply about an argument that went too far.

Abuse is about power and control.

I want to help people recognize unhealthy and potentially dangerous patterns before they become normalized.

I want to educate people about:

• The different forms domestic violence can take.
• The warning signs of controlling and abusive behavior.
• Emotional, psychological, physical, sexual, and financial abuse.
• Manipulation, intimidation, isolation, and coercive control.
• Why leaving an abusive relationship can be complicated and dangerous.
• How abuse can affect confidence, identity, relationships, and decision-making.
• The importance of safety planning and professional support.
• How trauma can continue to affect a person long after the relationship ends.
• How survivors can begin rebuilding their voice, boundaries, confidence, and sense of self.
• How friends and family can support someone experiencing abuse without blaming or judging them.

MY STORY HAS PURPOSE

I cannot change what happened to me.

But I can change what I do with what happened to me.

I can use my experience to help someone recognize something they have been struggling to name.

I can remind someone that being mistreated is not the same thing as being unworthy.

I can remind someone that manipulation is not love.

Control is not protection.

Jealousy is not proof of love.

Fear is not respect.

And abuse is never the survivor's fault.

FROM SURVIVOR TO ADVOCATE

I don't tell my story because I want people to feel sorry for me.

I tell it because someone may need to hear it.

Someone may be questioning what they are experiencing.

Someone may have been told that everything is their fault.

Someone may have spent years believing they weren't strong enough to leave.

Someone may have left and still be struggling to understand why they don't feel like themselves anymore.

And someone may simply need to know:

You are not crazy.
You are not alone.
You are not what happened to you.
And your story is not over.

HEALING IS MORE THAN LEAVING

Leaving an abusive relationship can be an important step, but healing doesn't automatically begin the moment you walk away.

Sometimes you have to learn how to trust yourself again.

You have to rediscover your voice.

You have to establish boundaries.

You have to stop measuring your worth through someone else's treatment of you.

You have to understand the wounds that you carried into the relationship—and the wounds the relationship left behind.

And you have to give yourself permission to become someone new.

Not because the person you were wasn't enough.

But because you survived long enough to discover who you really are.

BREAKING GENERATIONAL PATTERNS

My mission also extends beyond the individual.

I want to help break cycles of unhealthy relationships and generational trauma.

What we witness, experience, tolerate, or normalize can sometimes influence what we believe relationships are supposed to look like.

But cycles can be interrupted.

Patterns can be challenged.

Children can learn a different definition of love.

Families can learn healthier ways to communicate.

And survivors can become the people who say:

“It ends with me.”

MY PROMISE

I will use my voice.

I will tell my story.

I will educate without judgment.

I will encourage people to recognize the signs.

I will remind survivors that their safety matters.

I will encourage professional support when it is needed.

I will challenge the shame that keeps people silent.

And I will continue to remind survivors that healing doesn't mean pretending it never happened.

Healing means it no longer gets to define who you become.

HEAL • EMPOWER • RESTORE

HEAL the wounds that were hidden, ignored, or silenced.

EMPOWER yourself with knowledge, boundaries, support, and the courage to reclaim your voice.

RESTORE the confidence, identity, peace, and purpose that abuse tried to take from you.

I survived domestic violence.

But I am more than a survivor.

I am an advocate.
I am an educator.
I am a voice for awareness.
I am a woman who chose to heal.

And now I want to help others understand:

You don't have to lose yourself to love someone else.

You don't have to accept abuse to keep a relationship.

You don't have to remain who trauma taught you to be.

There is life after abuse.

There is identity after abuse.

There is purpose after abuse.

There is healing after abuse.

And sometimes your greatest purpose is hidden inside the very thing you survived.

HER HEAL • EMPOWER • RESTORE

My story is not just about what happened to me.

It is about what I chose to become afterward.

My Kidney Health Mission

MY KIDNEY HEALTH MISSION

From Surviving Kidney Disease to Helping Others Protect Their Kidneys

My kidney disease journey has been one hell of a roller-coaster ride.

What started as a fight to stay alive became one of the most transformative journeys of my life.

The goal was to get through dialysis and make it to a kidney transplant. Dialysis was a journey in itse
lf—physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Every treatment reminded me that my kidneys were no longer doing what they were supposed to do and that my life depended on finding another way forward.

Then came the transplant.

The gift of life.

Receiving a kidney transplant changed my life and gave me a profound appreciation for organ donors, recipients, healthcare professionals, families, and organizations working to make transplantation possible.

After my transplant, I learned about Gift of Life, a nonprofit organization whose work I continue to support.

But somewhere along my journey, I realized something even deeper:

My heart is not only in transplantation.
My heart is in prevention.

I don’t want people to wait until their kidneys are failing before they begin learning about kidney health.

I don’t want people to discover chronic kidney disease only after they have already lost significant kidney function.

And I don’t want people to believe that dialysis or transplantation is simply something that happens to someone else.

Kidney health deserves attention long before a crisis occurs.

MY MISSION

My mission is to educate, empower, and support people in protecting their kidney health and navigating chronic kidney disease.

Through education and advocacy, I want to help people understand their risk factors, recognize the importance of early detection, communicate effectively with their healthcare providers, and make informed decisions about their health.

I want people to understand that, depending on the cause and stage of kidney disease, appropriate medical care and healthy lifestyle choices may help prevent kidney disease, slow its progression, or delay complications such as kidney failure.

I want to talk about the things many people don’t know until it is too late:

What is chronic kidney disease?

Who is at risk?

What should you be asking your doctor?

What tests can help identify kidney problems?

What can you do to protect your kidneys?

What does it mean when kidney function begins to decline?

What happens when dialysis becomes necessary?

What does the transplant journey really look like?

And perhaps most importantly:

What can we learn before we ever reach that point?

MY STORY HAS PURPOSE

I cannot change what happened to me.

I cannot go back and rewrite my kidney disease journey.

But I can use what I learned to help someone else become more informed.

If my story encourages someone to get checked, understand their numbers, ask better questions, take their health seriously, follow their treatment plan, or advocate for themselves, then my experience has purpose.

If someone learns that kidney disease can sometimes progress silently—and decides not to ignore their health—that matters.

If someone living with CKD feels less alone because they hear someone say, “I’ve been there,” that matters.

And if someone learns about organ donation and decides to become a donor, that matters too.

FROM TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT TO KIDNEY HEALTH ADVOCATE

I am grateful for the kidney transplant that gave me another chapter.

But I don’t want my story to end with:

“I survived kidney disease.”

I want it to continue with:

“What can we do so more people understand kidney disease before it becomes kidney failure?”

That is where my passion lives.

That is where my advocacy begins.

I received the gift of life.

Now I want to use my life to help others understand how precious theirs is.

MY PROMISE

I will share my story.

I will share what I have learned.

I will encourage people to ask questions.

I will advocate for awareness and early detection.

I will support people living with chronic kidney disease.

I will encourage people to work with qualified healthcare professionals to understand their individual risks and treatment options.

And I will continue using my voice to remind people that your health is worth paying attention to before it becomes an emergency.

I am not a doctor.

I am a survivor.

I am an advocate.

I am an educator.

And I am someone who has walked the road from kidney disease to dialysis to transplant.

My journey gave me the gift of life.

My mission is to help others protect theirs.

HEAL • EMPOWER • RESTORE

Heal through knowledge, support, and self-awareness.
Empower yourself to become an active participant in your healthcare.
Restore hope, strength, and purpose—even when the journey changes your life.

Because sometimes your greatest purpose is hidden inside the very thing you survived.

Allow me to Re-Introduce Myself

 

Studies Show a Direct Correlation between Domestic Violence and Chronic Illness

 Domestic abuse is not just physical violence. It is a pattern of behaviors used to gain power and control over another person. Many survivors never experience a physical assault but still endure severe and lasting harm. 

Common forms of domestic abuse include:

Physical abuse (hitting, choking, pushing, restraining)

Emotional abuse (humiliation, insults, constant criticism)

Psychological abuse (gaslighting, intimidation, threats)

Verbal abuse (name-calling, yelling, degrading language)

Sexual abuse and reproductive coercion

Financial or economic abuse (controlling money or preventing employment)

Digital or technological abuse (tracking devices, monitoring phones or social media)

Social isolation (cutting someone off from family and friends)

Coercive control—a pattern of manipulation, surveillance, intimidation, and control that limits a person's freedom and independence.

Research shows that non-physical abuse can have profound long-term effects, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and chronic health problems. It often escalates over time and may occur with or without physical violence. 

GOD Changed My Platform, But Not My Purpose Reflecting on 19 years of Healing Empowerment and Restoration

 Twenty years ago, I lost almost everything that mattered to me.

I lost my mother. I lost my job. I lost my marriage.

I was completely broken.

At the time, I couldn't imagine that God was quietly rebuilding a life that would be far greater than the one I was mourning.

Then, six years ago, I believed I finally knew what my future looked like.

I was preparing to run for City Council At-Large, convinced that winning an election would restore everything I felt I had lost. After being injured in a workplace accident, I lost my job as a furniture salesperson. Along with my income went much of my confidence. I felt as though I was losing the respect of my children, and I desperately wanted to prove—to them, to my family, and to myself—that I still mattered, that I still had value, and that my life still had purpose.

At the same time, I was carrying the deep wounds of a painful marriage. I watched my ex-husband move from one younger woman to another, often bringing them around me and my children. Every encounter left another scar on my heart. I felt humiliated, rejected, and invisible.

Without realizing it, I wasn't chasing purpose—I was chasing validation.

Running for office slowly became less about serving my community and more about proving my worth.

But God...

In His infinite wisdom and unfailing love, He had another plan.

On Christmas Eve, just before the election year, my life changed forever. I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. Shortly afterward, I began dialysis, and my dream of running for office came to an abrupt end.

I was devastated.

I couldn't understand why God kept allowing one door after another to close. I questioned His timing. I questioned His purpose. There were even moments when I questioned whether He still saw me.

But what I couldn't see then, I understand now.

God wasn't rejecting me.

He was redirecting me.

The platform I was chasing could never compare to the purpose He was preparing.

Dialysis didn't stop my calling—it refined it.

My illness didn't disqualify me—it became part of my testimony.

God wasn't preparing me to become a politician.

He was preparing me to become a healer.

An encourager.

An advocate.

A kidney transplant survivor.

A Certified Healing and Empowerment Coach.

And a living witness of His amazing grace.

Today, I understand that what looked like disappointment was actually divine protection. God closed the door to a position because He was opening the door to my purpose.

Looking back, I don't grieve the election I never ran.

I thank God for the path He chose instead.

Through every setback, every tear, every dialysis treatment, every transplant, every unanswered prayer, and every painful season, He was healing me, empowering me, and restoring me.

Now I know that my greatest assignment was never to hold public office.

It was to help people heal.

Sometimes God says "no" to the life we planned because He is preparing us for the life He promised.

His "no" is often His greatest act of protection.

And for that, I will forever give Him all the glory.

HER. HEAL. EMPOWER. RESTORE.

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Prayer Journaling: Deepen Your Faith

 

Begin with a Whisper: The Sacred Act of Prayer Journaling

Studies show that reflective writing can reduce stress, improve emotional regulation, and strengthen resilience—benefits that align seamlessly with spiritual development. Whether you're based in Philadelphia, Atlanta, or any community where wellness and self-discovery are prioritized, this practice meets you where you are. Prayer journaling helps you move from rote recitation to meaningful communion, turning daily reflections into moments of divine 

Prayer journaling isn’t just a spiritual habit—it’s a profound tool for emotional grounding and faith development. By consistently writing down your prayers, you create a sacred space for honest dialogue with the Divine, allowin
g you to process emotions, celebrate breakthroughs, and track your spiritual growth over time. This mindful practice slows down the chaos of daily life, especially in fast-paced environments like Philadelphia, Atlanta, or other urban communities where stillness can feel elusive.

When you record your prayers, you engage both heart and mind, turning fleeting thoughts into intentional reflections. This process fosters greater clarity, helping you recognize patterns in your requests, identify areas where trust is growing, and notice how your spiritual language evolves. Over time, your journal becomes a living testimony of faith—one that reveals God’s faithfulness through seasons of waiting, healing, and breakthrough.

Start where you are. Use a notebook that speaks to your spirit, set up a calming corner in your home, and protect this time as an act of self-respect. There’s no perfect way to begin—only your way. Let each written word be an act of courage, a step forward in trust, and a declaration of trust in your journey. Your path to spiritual clarity begins with one honest sentence. Keep going.

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