Survivor Story
Juliana
Content warning: contains emotional, financial, and physical abuse
I left Santo Domingo eight years ago on a visitor’s visa and fell in love with Juan. I thought living together and being married would be a fairy tale, but the dream quickly turned into a nightmare. He had four children, and while I cared for them, he spent nights and weekends drinking, cheating on, and berating me. When I threatened to stop cooking for them, he retaliated by cutting off groceries.
One evening, I returned from work to find that Juan had changed the locks. He ended up taking me back, but his emotional and financial abuse escalated into violence. Tragically, I also lost my brother to liver cancer around this same time. Depressed and at my wit’s end, I sought support at a local health center. There, I met a doctor who guided me to Casa Myrna. I met with my counselor, Yoanna, and I began planning my escape.
I saved up just enough money to move out and afford a single room – but nothing else. I relied on food pantries from local churches and realized I couldn’t make ends meet. I moved into one of Casa Myrna’s residential programs. To my surprise, I had my own room, and I discovered that shelters could be places of hope and healing.
With Casa Myrna’s help, I secured my VAWA visa and later my green card. I attended counseling, participated in house meetings, and received support for my job at the hair salon. I also completed a work program, an ESOL program, and received my home health aide license for elder care. And, after three years of an abusive marriage, their legal team helped with my divorce.
Now, I’m living in my own apartment, and I’ve found my inner strength. I’m grateful to Casa Myrna for caring for me like family, and I’m so proud of how far I’ve come. I’m finally free.