Survivor Story

Macey

Content warning: This story contains descriptions of abuse.

I was terrified when my mom kicked me out of the house when I was 17 and pregnant. She drank heavily and was mentally and physically abusive*. After spending about a week in a shelter, I went back home because my mom promised she’d work on her substance use disorder.

Things went downhill after I gave birth to my son, Sam. One day, my mom was holding Sam when she started to fight me, eventually grabbing a rope and trying to strangle me with it. She was arrested, and Sam and I went to the hospital. Through my son’s school I met Tamesha, an advocate at Casa Myrna, who placed Sam and me in the Teen Parenting Program.

After my first experience in a shelter, where I found the environment controlling and oppressive, I was hesitant to go to another. I was relieved to learn that I had much more freedom here. I’ve also found the one-on-one support incredibly helpful. Here, people really listen to you.

Now, I take advantage of the services that Casa Myrna offers, including housing support and economic stability, and value the consistency that the program provides. I’m finishing up my last year of high school and taking care of my son, who’s 19 months old. In the future, I plan to become a geriatric nurse.

With Casa Myrna’s support, I’ve learned to love my mom from a distance, and I’ve grown a lot over the past months.

*Editor’s note: Substance use does not cause domestic violence but may escalate controlling and abusive behaviors.