Content warning: emotional, physical, and sexual abuse Ayesha was 22 and living in Pakistan with her family. An 18-year-old Pakistani man in the US came to visit her family and changed her life forever. The man was her father’s nephew,... View Article
Read More See AllContent warning: contains emotional and physical abuse When I left my mother’s house at 19 years old due to our strained relationship, I never expected to experience dating violence. But that’s what happened when I moved in with a friend… View Article
Read MoreZuleica was the survivor speaker at our 14th Annual Community of Conscience Breakfast. We thank her for her courage in sharing her path to safety and healing. Content warning: contains emotional and physical abuse Zuleica is a mother of three… View Article
Read MoreContent warning: emotional and physical abuse My ex and I met in church. We dated and moved in together. For years, I experienced physical and emotional abuse, including stalking and threats. We both embodied our church’s principles of forgiveness, and he used… View Article
Read MoreLast year, we featured survivor Ava’s story online. We had the pleasure of meeting with her one year later to get an update on her and her son Jacob’s lives now. This April, I moved into an apartment with my son,… View Article
Read MoreContent warning: physical abuse and trauma, weapon usage Frances was with her abuser for 18 years, and they share two children together. She describes his behavior as threatening and tortuous. Frances worked and her partner did not. He would use this… View Article
Read MoreContent warning: Verbal, physical, and emotional abuse; physical trauma; substance use Monica lived with her partner for 13 years, and they had one child together. Her partner was verbally abusive and demanding, and she eventually became used to his constant put downs…. View Article
Read MoreContent warning: Verbal, physical, and emotional abuse; substance use Patricia met her husband at a young age. At the time, she believed he could overcome the substance use disorder he was battling. She stayed by his side through repeated relapses,… View Article
Read MoreContent Warning: Verbal abuse, emotional manipulation, stalking I met Todd my junior year of college. He was smart, athletic, and had a big group of hometown friends. He was my first love. We dated for the remainder of college and… View Article
Read MoreHow do survivors find out about the resources that are available to them? For Elisa, it was becoming friends with her neighbor, Casa Myrna advocate Yoanna. Elisa ended a toxic relationship after 10 years, but her troubles didn’t end there…. View Article
Read MoreMost of the survivors we support at Casa Myrna are young women and their children. But we know that not all family violence is caused by men – 1 in 4 men in the U.S. have experienced physical violence by an… View Article
Read MoreContent warning: emotional and psychological abuse Domestic violence can take a wide range of physical and psychological forms in an intimate relationship. Lucia’s husband worked hard, helped her raise her two boys from a previous marriage, and never hit her… View Article
Read MoreContent warning: contains descriptions of physical and emotional abuse, death threats, and substance use disorder. “I just learned from your husband that he plans to kill you. You need to find safe space right now.” The warning from her husband’s… View Article
Read MoreLucinda came to one of Casa Myrna’s shelter programs with her two youngest children after she decided to end her abusive marriage. As an immigrant, Lucinda had worked hard to provide her children with opportunities here. With her husband, she… View Article
Read MoreIsabella was trapped in a marriage for ten years with an abusive man who rarely spoke to her. She was reluctant to leave because she wanted her son to grow up with his father. She was also afraid because her… View Article
Read MoreSofia came to Casa Myrna after having lived in several shelters throughout the US. To escape from an abusive relationship, she and her two children moved from their home country in South America to Texas. Sofia was raped while in Texas… View Article
Read MoreI was terrified when my mom kicked me out of the house when I was 17 and pregnant. Things went downhill after I gave birth to my son, Sam.
Read More“I just learned from your husband that he plans to kill you. You need to find safe space right now.” The warning from her husband’s therapist came in the middle of Christine’s workday at the university where she teaches, forcing her to drop everything and leave.
Read MoreI was so happy when I got pregnant. I always wanted children and I thought he loved me, and everything would be fine.
Read MoreIn the beginning it was just a normal relationship and I was happy to be in love. Not long after we met, I found out I was pregnant and a few months later we welcomed a beautiful baby girl. But… View Article
Read MoreRoxana has worked as a Community Advocacy Specialist at Casa Myrna since 2016, when she moved to Boston from her home state of California. Throughout the week, she visits district courts, health centers, and the Family Justice Center to literally… View Article
Read MoreA lifelong Bostonian and a social worker, Cynthia was the first person to step into Casa Myrna’s new Dorchester Community Engagement Coordinator role. She channels her warmth and optimism into cracking up & cheering on her coworkers as well as… View Article
Read MoreJosephine, 59, is originally from Nigeria. She holds a degree in counseling and is the mother of one grown daughter and three triplet grandchildren, age four. She is active in her church community and volunteers at local programs that assist homeless… View Article
Read MoreMy story begins when my life changed at age 16. I had been living with my family in the Dominican Republic when my parents suddenly divorced and I had to go live with my grandmother. It was a lonely time… View Article
Read MoreHave you ever had to start over? Have you lost a job, a relationship, or a home—or had to flee from one? Did you ever worry that you didn’t have the strength to rebuild and keep moving forward? Perhaps you… View Article
Read MoreMy name is Rima and I came to Boston almost ten years ago with my husband. We began as international pen pals writing letters, but over time our friendship became a big love story. He came to Syria, my homeland,… View Article
Read MoreMichelle and her daughter Lucy stayed at Casa Myrna’s Teen Parenting Program for two years after escaping an abusive relationship that began when Michelle was just 14 years old. Michelle was excited to show our community what their support for survivors can do. She wants all survivors, especially teens, to know that they are never alone.
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