I wanted to post this call to help Lori, a roller derby girl without medical insurance who is recovering from a vicious domestic violence attack in the US:

Lori is a survivor of a violent domestic attack which occurred on 4/24/11 while she and her daughters were visiting family in Georgia for Easter. She was repeatedly kicked and incurred many facial fractures and lacerations. She was transported to the emergency room by ambulance and admitted. She spent the first week in the hospital recovering from her injuries. On Friday 4/29/11 she underwent a seven hour surgery to repair her facial injuries, which resulted in multiple titanium plates, pins and screws being implanted. Her jaw was wired shut and she was on a ventilator. She remains in the hospital recovering from this awful attack.

Domestic violence occurs in all cultures, against people of all races, ethnicities, religions, and classes. Domestic violence is known by many terms including wife or husband beating, battering, domestic abuse, spousal abuse, and family violence, which is a broader definition often used to include child abuse, elder abuse, or other violent acts between family members. It also takes on many forms aside from physical violence; sexual abuse, emotional abuse, intimidation, economic deprivation, or threats of violence all constitute domestic violence. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), domestic violence is a serious, preventable public health problem that affects more than 32 million Americans. This number only reflects the number of cases that are reported; it’s estimated that in the United States, as many as one third of domestic violence cases are never reported.

For more information on news and research about coping with abuse and violence, symptoms, prevention and screening, law and policy, and statistics, go online to the National Institute of Health website at www.nlm.nih.gov. Other good resources can be found at www.endabuse.org and www.womenslaw.org, which features free, easy to understand legal information and resources to battered women. It takes great effort to get out of a physically or psychologically abusive relationship, but there is help if you know where to find it. 

-Lori's Story, Increasing Awareness

It's a horrific story, but not a rare one, sadly. So many people suffer from abuse, and when it happens in the US, it's particularly scary, because you know you'll be paying for your own healing process. It's like salt in the wound, and it sucks.

If you're able to send a little something her way, please do.