1. The main support I received from MAI Family Services is counseling services which was very helpful. Although I have used local American counselors, but seeing the perspective of an Indian counselor (Being Indian) was very helpful in my decision of leaving my marriage. The Counselor at MAI Family Services was always available, I called her so many times, emailed her, she was always there to talk to me, support me in every way she could, even my paid American counselor was not available in that way. So I thank the MAI Family Services Counselor in helping me through that. Now that I work for DV organization New Visions for South Asian woman, we hope to utilize MAI Family Services' existing resources including great case workers they have in their organization, to render help to those who are in desperate need of it. 2. I wanted to say that I have been grateful to MAI Family Services, especially to the case worker who had answered my call when I called MAI Family Services for the first time. I was a victim of domestic violence, who had suffered silently with no knowledge of being abused and harassed. I thought it was ok and normal to be treated like the way I was treated. But it is not normal. I thought my husband would change over the time, given the time for him to understand. What a misnomer that is! I did not know that there were many women who are going through same kind of abuse whether physical, emotional abuse or domestic abuse. It is not right to be mistreated or abused. We're humans too and we need to be treated well. As any girl who entered the sanctity of marriage with dreams in hearts, and hope and aspirations for future, I find hardships and heart breaks through out my married life. I was more of a doormat on the door or servant who would do the chores and pretend to be a wife in the society for the heck of prestige and family pride. It took me so long to understand that the person I married is not a human but a monster and to take the step to fight it out. Once upon a time, I was considered to be happy lucky go around person who thought that the world is full of joy and happiness and all the people in the world are good at heart. But I was wrong. I had go through thick and thin to understand that all that glitters is not gold and my husband is not the person I wanted to spend and share my entire life with him. I wish I had known what a person he was from the day one. When I was going through the Domestic violence and abuse, my confidence, my inner hope and happiness died within me and I had no one to talk or share my cries. No one would understand me. Even if I make an effort to tell people, they would tell me that it is woman's job to understand, compromise in all the things to have a very peaceful, happy married life. That's the advice I would get when I approached people. How should I say what I had gone through and how many times did I wish I had died before I had seen another day in my life. I died within myself every day. I could not live my life any more and I had a responsibility of taking care of my baby. I didn't want her to go through the same abuse I had gone through, this is when I had contacted MAI Family Services and the counselor had been with me through out my hardships and would hear me talk about my issues and grievances. I was desperately looking for people who would understand and empathize with me and understand me for what I'm. With out the MAI Family Services counselor, I would not have stood on the ground where I'm now. I would not have had the courage to forge ahead with the calamities in my life. I am grateful to MAI Family Services. Thanks for being there for me.   Integrity, Trust and Confidentiality is our Strength!  Toll Free 888-664-8624