By Paula Lucas | Founder
Riva didn't want to go through the Military Family Advocacy Program to report domestic violence. She felt more comfortable working with an outside agency, especially since she was so unsure of what she wanted to do.
Riva's husband could be kind and loving sometimes and she hoped those times would last. But mostly he was angry, sullen and verbally and emotionally abusive when they were alone. When he drank alcohol, it got even worse. But when they were in public it was like he was a different person. Like the person she had fallen in love with, funny, engaging and dynamic.
For several weeks we provided Riva ongoing support via email and referred her to off-base counseling.
To complicate things, she found out she was pregnant, but decided not to tell her husband yet.
Riva wanted the news of their first child to be exciting, but instead she was afraid of what his reaction might be.
She told him she was going home to visit family in the USA until the end of the year. To her surprise, he didn't object. He said he will come also for the holidays as his family lives in the same area.
Now that Riva is back home, she plans to tell her husband she is pregnant and is going to stay in the USA to have the baby. She still fears his reaction, but she feels much safer at home where she has friends, family and a support network.
She feels empowered and plans to tell him that he has to go to counseling and anger management if he wants the marriage to continue.
We know Riva has a long way to go, but because of your donations, we can help victims when they need it most, giving them the support and time they need to make the best decisions possible for themselves no matter where they are in the world.
Thank you from the Pathways' Team!
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