Inspiration is when something or someone touches your soul and stays forever in your memory impacting most of your actions. I watched an episode of the Oprah Winfrey show about 6 years ago, and it was about a lady called Carolyn Thomas who dated a very abusive and control-oriented boyfriend.
Basically the story of survival went like this: “On December 5, 2003, Carolyn Thomas and her mother Janice Reeves were attacked by Carolyn’s abusive ex-boyfriend. Carolyn’s abuser shot and killed Janice Reeves, Carolyn’s mother and shot Carolyn in the face with a ‘44 magnum’ Carolyn did not die, she is a survivor”. Since then Carolyn has had to endure 12 cosmetic surgeries. Why? Because the impact of the bullet in her face took her eye, nose and a huge part of her jaw out. This evening, I watched the season finale of Oprah and she included the “Woman who Survived” talking about her recovery process.
Carolyn has had 17 months of surgeries and trips between her home in Waco and her doctors in Houston. Meanwhile, with the help of Diane Jackson, her counselor, Carolyn began building the reputation as the woman who not only survived a horrific attack from an abusive boyfriend but found the courage to speak out against domestic violence. Her speeches have taken her all across America, and she is planning at the moment, as said on Oprah, a charitable foundation, through which she will help other women escape domestic violence.
All in all, Carolyn inspires me greatly. No, not because I have an abusive boyfriend, but because she is an awesome example of how it took a bullet to her face to tell her and every woman out there that if a man hits, he will hit again.
Today, Oprah restated a very recurring quote that when a man hits his wife or partner, he will do it again. Her mission statement today is :"To promote the emotional, physical, and mental well-being of domestic violence victims/survivors on various levels in order to enrich their lives and maximize their independence, including support of programs/organizations dedicated to making positive changes within the domestic violence movement for victims and survivors of domestic violence."
Written by: Jenny Jumaian, 10
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