Gospel artiste moves on from domestic abuse - Begs other women to leave abusive partners

A rising gospel singer said she is imploring women affected by domestic violence to walk away from the relationships before it is too late.

"Just find the courage to leave and don't feel guilty about it. A lot of times a woman will refuse to leave a violent relationship because the man is the provider. But leave, as there are resources out there and persons to help. Also, don't stay silent about it, speak to your loved ones. Just leave," she said. The singer said she met her now ex partner at age 22, and admitted that she spotted the red flags early on.

"He was very controlling, like we would be driving and I had to keep my head straight at all times. He was very choosy when it comes on to my friends and I just didn't have much breathing space but I brushed all of those signs away," she said.

Three months into their relationship, the singer said she got pregnant and by that time the abuse became physical.

"I was very afraid of him. He would spit on me, box me and just smack mi around. During my first trimester, he punched me in the side of my stomach and I literally saw stars. There were times I would take the blame just so that he would remain calm. He had to approve my clothes and I was isolated from my loved ones. All this time they were unaware of what I was going through. It was my first relationship and I wanted it to work so badly," she said.

As her due date approached, the woman said she anticipated holding and bonding with her newborn son, but that never happened. She said her partner flew into a jealous rage after he visited her home and she was not there.

"He thought I had gone out with another man and when I got home, he was standing at the front door. The look on his face told me that I was in deep trouble. Before I could speak, he grabbed me and body slammed me into a wall. I passed out and I was bleeding. When I revived, I begged him to call 911 as I was bleeding and was in so much pain, but he just walked through the door," she said.

After she was assisted to hospital, she lied and told the doctors that she fell. She said she was told that her placenta was ripped and could not be repaired.

"The doctors knew I was lying. Although I was placed on bed rest, I returned to work as I needed the money, and while at work, a part of my placenta fell out. I was hospitalised again and I begged and pleaded with my babyfather to come and get me. On the way home I was still in pain and I begged him to hug mi. But instead he went under the seat for a knife and told me that if I didn't stop talking he was going to chop me open," she said.

The singer said she later developed a life-threatening infection from the placenta tear, and was hospitalised once more.

"It was like I could already picture myself dead in a coffin. My mother and her prayer warriors came to the hospital and they prayed for me. My son was born later that day and he died in my arms hours later, and I was devastated. My ex partner acted like nothing happened and just continued as usual," she said.

But, not even a close brush with death was enough for her to exit the turmoil she was in. The beatings continued throughout her next pregnancy, but fortunately, her daughter survived.

"But one day, I just decided to leave. We didn't have an argument or anything but I just knew it was time to leave. It was a struggle to even comfortably get into another relationship, as sometimes the victim becomes the abuser, but in a different form. I am doing better though...things are going to be okay," she said.