JOPLIN, Mo. —
March 14 would have been my sister Diana’s 47th birthday. Unfortunately we lost Diana in 1990, when she was only 24 years old. Diana was the victim of domestic violence.
Diana was a beautiful, loving soul. In life, she was a mother, a daughter, a sister and a dear friend to many. In death she has become just one of a staggering number of statistics.
One in four women (24.3 percent, perhaps) aged 18 and older in the United States have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Nearly 15 percent of women (14.8 percent) have been injured as a result of intimate partner violence that included rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
An estimated 1,300 women lose their life annually because of domestic violence. In 2010 alone, 1,095 women were murdered by an intimate partner (U.S. Department of Justice, FBI, 2011).
I loved my sister very much, and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t miss her greatly. If you are in an abusive situation, please know that you too are loved and there is help available.
Locally, we have an organization that works very hard to offer refuge and support for women who need it when they need it most. Lafayette House’s work is important. Lafayette House is worthy of any support that you can give.
To learn more about Lafayette House or to donate, please visit their website at http://www.lafayettehouse.org. Thank you.
Gary Stubblefield
Carl Junction, Mo.
Opinion
Your View: Victims of abuse
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