Creating Hope for Women

Last week, several coworkers and I were fortunate enough to go on a site visit to Alternatives for Battered Women. We met with Cathy Mazzotta, the executive director for ABW who gave us some background information and a tour of their facility. ABW is actually featured in this year’s campaign film, so make sure you get a chance to check it out. Although it was enlightening hearing Cathy tell us stories, nothing really sunk in until I sat down with a coworker and heard her experience with ABW.
Theresa has been at United Way for 10 years now, but it’s been a long journey that has brought her to this point. It started 20 years ago when she met her now ex- husband, who although was abusive while they were dating, convinced her to get married. A couple months after she had her daughter, she tried to leave for the first time. He convinced her that he would change and Theresa ended up back with him and got pregnant with her son. Unfortunately, the abuse didn’t stop while she was pregnant, and she ended up going into labor 3 months early. Her son was born just over one pound and spent the first 3 months in the hospital.
The nurses noticed that she wasn’t visiting as much as the other mothers and also noticed bruises. One of the nurses got her information on ABW got her into some counseling. Once her son was out of the hospital she finally decided to leave her husband for good. It took her 4 times to leave until she was successful. She is actually pretty lucky because the average woman tries leaving her abuser 7 times before she is successful.
Theresa fled to the shelter with two babies and was finally safe. She was able to get the help that she needed and ABW actually referred her to Wilson Commencement Park- where she was one of the first residents. She continued going to counseling at ABW for a year after and enrolled in classes as Bryant & Stratton where she graduated. She also was active as a volunteer board and committee member at WCP for many years. Since her son was born so early, he has some learning disabilities but he has been able to use a lot of the services in the community like St. Joseph’s Villa, and taking therapeutic riding lessons at the Equicenter.
Hearing Theresa’s story really goes to show how intertwined a lot of our agencies are. She has learned to ask for help and use the tools that are available to her. Both her kids are doing great, and her daughter is getting ready to graduate high school and go off to college.
The nurse at the hospital saved Theresa’s life. Many of the programs in the community have helped keep her and her children safe and successful. If you or someone you know is affected by domestic abuse, please call ABW at 232-7353 or check out their website http://www.abwrochester.org/.