Miss-Delectable
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Burnet woman left deaf after beatings | KXAN.com
Maria Mendoza almost lost her life to domestic violence a year ago.
Living in Mexico with her then-boyfriend, Mendoza said she was beaten daily and verbally abused. Having run away from a her home to Burnet at age 15 to escape incest and abuse, Mendoza said she thought living meant 'having drama going on.'
"I knew I was going to die," recalled Mendoza.
Her boyfriend was involved in a gang and she feared retaliation if she spoke up or reported the abuse.
"I just kept praying for that bottle to break on my head so he'd stop," she said.
Texas Council on Family Violence
As the result of her beatings, her teeth were chipped, she had multiple concussions and went partially deaf.
"Basically, I lost my hearing to domestic violence," she added.
Unable to cope with the beatings, Mendoza decided if her boyfriend couldn't kill her, she would do the job herself.
Fortunately, her suicide attempt failed. Eventually, with the help of her boyfriend's family, she escaped from Mexico and returned home to Burnet County.
Once back in the Hill Country, she found herself living at the Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center.
She spent months undergoing counseling and healing from her wounds. Just recently, she moved from the shelter to a transitional living facility.
"I am finally going to do it on my own," Mendoza said.
Mendoza is speaking out about the violence she endured. At a candlelight vigil at Hamilton Creek Park near downtown Burnet Monday night, Mendoza will share her story with the public. The vigil starts at 6:30 p.m. and another domestic violence survivor will speak. That woman is also a Burnet resident.
The vigil will recognize domestic violence survivors and help raise awareness.
Last year, the Highland Lakes area saw a spike in domestic violence. This year, only a slight increase was reported.
During the last fiscal year, and the time Mendoza spent living at the shelter, 107 women and 128 children were also living there. Additionally, counselors serviced 376 adults and 481 children that were not living on the premises.
Maria Mendoza almost lost her life to domestic violence a year ago.
Living in Mexico with her then-boyfriend, Mendoza said she was beaten daily and verbally abused. Having run away from a her home to Burnet at age 15 to escape incest and abuse, Mendoza said she thought living meant 'having drama going on.'
"I knew I was going to die," recalled Mendoza.
Her boyfriend was involved in a gang and she feared retaliation if she spoke up or reported the abuse.
"I just kept praying for that bottle to break on my head so he'd stop," she said.
Texas Council on Family Violence
As the result of her beatings, her teeth were chipped, she had multiple concussions and went partially deaf.
"Basically, I lost my hearing to domestic violence," she added.
Unable to cope with the beatings, Mendoza decided if her boyfriend couldn't kill her, she would do the job herself.
Fortunately, her suicide attempt failed. Eventually, with the help of her boyfriend's family, she escaped from Mexico and returned home to Burnet County.
Once back in the Hill Country, she found herself living at the Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center.
She spent months undergoing counseling and healing from her wounds. Just recently, she moved from the shelter to a transitional living facility.
"I am finally going to do it on my own," Mendoza said.
Mendoza is speaking out about the violence she endured. At a candlelight vigil at Hamilton Creek Park near downtown Burnet Monday night, Mendoza will share her story with the public. The vigil starts at 6:30 p.m. and another domestic violence survivor will speak. That woman is also a Burnet resident.
The vigil will recognize domestic violence survivors and help raise awareness.
Last year, the Highland Lakes area saw a spike in domestic violence. This year, only a slight increase was reported.
During the last fiscal year, and the time Mendoza spent living at the shelter, 107 women and 128 children were also living there. Additionally, counselors serviced 376 adults and 481 children that were not living on the premises.