Age: 33
Ethnicity: South Asian (India)

Priti was brought to the U.S. through an arranged marriage from India ten years ago. Not allowed to make friends, pursue an education or get a job. She was told that her specific job was to take care of her husband, cook, clean, and be an obedient wife. After years of physical abuse she called No More Tears today. I am meeting with her tomorrow afternoon to help her obtain justice and freedom.

Age: 29
Ethnicity: African

Rachel has an eighteen month old daughter from a previous relationship. She married her husband believing that he would be a loving father. Instead, both, Rachel and her eighteen month old daughter were burnt with cigarettes. Rachel was physically and sexually abused throughout the marriage. She is now with us and safe along with her daughter.

Age: 31
Ethnicity: Jamaican

Patricia was woken up for thirteen years of her life with either a fist hitting her head, being forced to have sex while she was in deep sleep or being screamed at for something she did wrong. She finally escaped and is now under the care of No More Tears with her two boys, ages five and thirteen.

Sheila’s troubles started when she suffered her first rape at 13. After a stint in the hospital, she was raped again by a different person. Sheila found out she was pregnant from the first one. Her mom used to beat Sheila during this time. As an adult, Sheila was abused by her husband with whom she has a son, Jeff, who is eleven. She has been divorced from him for nine years, although he still occasionally harasses her and has threatened her to the point that she has contacted the police. Sheila is unable to collect child support from her husband. Not long ago, she moved in with a woman who became abusive to Sheila. She attempted to strangle Sheila until finally Jeff called the police.

Jeff has major medical needs as he suffers from Crohn’s disease. He is regularly hospitalized at a local children’s hospital. Sheila worries about Jeff’s health, the fact that he is depressed, and that they must find somewhere to live that is safe. Sheila really wants to work and has held some good positions in human resources, staffing, and administrative work. She has an Associates Degree in Business Administration and has completed the coursework (with honors) for a certificate in Medical Coding. She just needs to take the final exam and get the actual certification which she can’t afford right now. It is difficult for Sheila to keep continous work because of the time she has to take off due to Jeff’s health. She continues to search for work and has applied for positions recently.

Sheila has an older car that is need of repair. She receives food stamps and No More Tears provided her with money, clothing and food for herself and Jeff. She needs help finding somewhere to live, some rent assistance until she finds work, and help getting work.

Sara is a Muslim woman who has endured ten years of abuse. But above all, she is a survivor. Sara’s husband would beat her so badly she was unable to go anywhere. He refused to allow her to even go outside for two months. He would not allow her to have any friends. In fact, Sara has never invited anyone to her home. Her husband monitored all her phone calls allowing only 30 minutes per month; each call was strictly supervised.

When she came to this country, she barely spoke English. Despite her husband’s wishes, Sara managed to become fluent in English and earn a GED. She was able to attend community college, and now is midway through a doctorate at a local university.

Sara’s husband believes that women do not have any reason to become educated. He accuses Sara of being a bad wife and mother for allowing her children to go to after-care when she has class or needs to study. Unfortunately, the abuse did not stop with insults and degradation. Daily beatings were the norm. It was not uncommon for him to pull her by the hair so hard that chunks of hair were ripped from her scalp.

Until late November of this year, Sara had told no one about the abuse. She has no family here to help her but she wants to make a new life for herself and her children. She needs money to pay for basic necessities such as groceries, toiletries, and clothes for her kids.