Client Spotlight

Sara was 18 when she fell in love with David. At first, she thought everything was perfect. Sara has a physical disability, so when David said that he didn't want her to hang out with other people on her own or go out by herself, she thought he was trying to take care of her. Six months into their relationship, Sara and David got married.

Over time, Sara realized that she felt smothered. She had lost touch with her friends because she was never allowed to go out. David wouldn't let Sara go home to see her mother because he didn't get along with her. Things got worse and worse, and Sara felt like a prisoner. By the time she got pregnant, she was making every decision based on how she thought he would react.  When Sara told David she wanted to see her mother to tell her about the pregnancy, he got furious and punched her in the stomach.  Sara was shocked and scared. David had never hit her before, so she had never thought that her relationship was abusive.

Sara reached out for help after David was arrested, and she started attending a Day One support group. Being in a safe space with other young survivors who understood her has made Sara feel less alone. Day One's attorney spoke with her about her legal options, enabling her to make decisions that would keep her and her baby safe. Day One is proud to offer Sara a supportive community as she takes steps towards healing. In Sara's own words, "Just because I have a disability, doesn't mean someone can control me."