No matter how much press it gets, how many well meaning workshops, studies and conferences examine it - domestic violence just never goes away.
That's because for all the awareness efforts - there's just no rule to govern what happens between a man and a woman in the privacy of their home. So the story we're going to tell doesn't hope to end domestic violence. Yes it involves a victim, but it doesn't focus on her victim-hood, really it's about a Survivor - a woman whose victory is hard won - wrung from the fire itself - Alfonso noble has the story.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
Sheldon Middleton, (February 11th 2003)
"I just saw the flames in front of me and I could do nothing. I just said Jervis, Jervis, you di burn me up."
That was 29-year-old Sheldon Middleton after she was severely burnt by her common law husband on February 11th of last year. At the time the burns inflicted on her would have it seem that she'd not recover, being almost disfigured. Today a year later that image of Sheldon recovering is but a memory she's endured a long and painful recovery having her almost back to normal. On my visit I needed no sterilized clothing as I did a year ago.
Sheldon Middleton, Survivor
"I couldn't even recognize myself so I thank God I am living."
"When I look in the mirror I don't anything different, I see the same person so I act the same way. Nothing different with me."
And she keeps this outlook even after enduring painful skin graphs to restore her face's skin. And she knows all too well that she may never recover fully being scarred by the incident both emotionally and physically.
Sheldon Middleton,
"I have a lot of scars but they don't bother me because I thank God I am alive. Sometimes when I sitting down alone I have flashbacks or if I see a movie on TV with fire I can stand to watch it and I get nervous or have a instant headache. I have a lot of nightmares too but I try not to put my mind to it but when my kids are around I have nothing to worry about and I don't worry about it."
Even so however she knows that while the mind is away the body remains and so do her scars that trouble her very often.
Sheldon Middleton,
"I couldn't stand the pain in hospital because burns hurt. Some days I thought I couldn't make it because burns hurt but I prayed a lot and looked forward to seeing my kids so I had to try survive."
"The amazing thing is that when like the sun is hot so it hurts sometimes so I have to take Benadryl but the only I miss is wearing my cool blouse and thing like that but other than I feel like the same old person."
The same person that would not allow a tragic incident keep her down even when she was so close to literally loosing who she was.
The trial of the man accused of doing it to her, her common law husband Jervis Valencia is still pending in the supreme court - as he is remanded for an unrelated murder charge.