It is a gorgeous day today! What better way to contribute to all of this beauty than present you with today’s stunning #SurvivorSunday feature, Nikki Daniel. Nikki has proven time and time again just what it means to evolve from ‘victim’ to ‘victor’ and continues to inspire those in her community to do the same. Please take a moment to read her touching story below and see how one amazing woman went from pain to purpose.

Nikki’s Story

I knew my relationship wasn’t right almost from the start… Initially, it was verbal abuse then because I accepted that it grew to emotional, then financial then physical. Over the years I just accepted it and came to the conclusion that this was the way it is and will always be. I remember always having to make excuses. Make excuses and make arrangements. This was my life! Making excuses for his behavior to others and making arrangements so we wouldn’t be in the dark, homeless, car -less etc. I remember always being scared! Scared I was going to make him angry, scared I wasn’t going to be able to cover a bill because I made him angry and he punished me by not having his portion, scared that someone would see the real me, scared that my mom would know what was really going on… As the years went on children came into the picture and the abuse got physical. From being choked to being dragged to being threatened on so many levels I knew that my life was going to be this way and there was absolutely nothing I could do to get away because we had 2 kids and I had to stay because of them. It got to the point where I was afraid to sleep at night and would have nightmares that he was going to hurt me. I am skipping so many details but the last straw was when he wasn’t by my side when I had complications after giving birth to our 2nd son and needed an emergency blood transfusion. To top it off I was alone the first 3 nights after giving birth to that child. I remembered feeling that I had to do whatever I needed to do to get out of my hell. Approximately 11 months later I got a protective order against him because he and I couldn’t live in the same home at that point. He had begun to damage my property. He would put my cell phone in the toilet, purposely take my eye glasses and hide them, take my car keys so I couldn’t leave the house, threaten to leave drugs in the house so I would go to jail if I tried to leave. I was being choked like that was normal and dragged like nobody’s business from 1 end of the house to the other because I asked him a question that according to him wasn’t my concern. He threatened to hurt my friends and family if I told. I finally got the courage to get a protective order for 2 weeks, then for 2 years. I was free. My mother introduced me to a young lady named Sanu Dieng who changed my life. I became an advocate and learned things about domestic violence I never knew and I am forever grateful to Sanu and to Transitions Family Violence Services. I now am the owner of Gifted Boutiques LLC an online boutique for women. We sell accessories and shoes and 10% of our proceeds are donated to Transitions Family Violence Services. I have to give back to that organization because that organization gave me life. I found my purpose which is sharing my story to hopefully help someone believe in themselves enough to know that they deserve better, they can survive and thrive after domestic violence. I am also a facilitator of a support group for survivors of domestic violence called SSG (Survivor’s Support Group). We meet once a month and our goal is to help others get through the after effects of domestic violence.

Please support us by following us on IG @giftedboutiques requesting to join our support group on FB Survivor’s Support Group (SSG) and like us on FB as well at Gifted Boutiques LLC

Visit our online boutique www.giftedboutiques.com