Leanne* married a man who was once charming, fun and loving. However, after the honeymoon phase she began to experience physical, emotional, verbal, and financial abuse.
鈥淗e was like Jekyll and Hyde,鈥 Leanne said.
Things became even worse when Leanne learned she had stage four cancer. Shockingly, the abuse only got worse.
Because of her illness, Leanne could not get around without a walker. Her husband continued to brutally beat her. 鈥淗e assaulted me ten times in two months. He held me over a balcony and threw me down a flight of stairs.鈥
In an effort to protect her daughter from seeing the abuse and to protect her own sense of dignity, Leanne decided she had to make a change. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know what to say or where to go,鈥 she said.
She found New Mexico Legal Aid (NMLA); the attorneys helped her get out of the rental lease she had with her husband. NMLA obtained restraining orders to protect Leanne and her daughter, and handled all legal aspects of the divorce.
Asked about dealing with the legal system, Leanne said, 鈥淚t was very intimidating but I鈥檓 so much happier.鈥
Today, though battling cancer, Leanne is now in her own apartment and free from violence. She hopes to be a role model to women trying to escape violent situations.
*Names have been changed