For every woman who has ever experienced domestic abuse, the challenge of making it through another day let alone the rest of her life, is sometimes unbearable. For many women, just surviving the experience of being battered is a tremendous accomplishment and recovery from these experiences can take years, if not the rest of a woman's life.
There are organizations committed to strengthening and empowering women in many different ways. Some help gather together resources to leave an abusive situation; others assist, after they've left, in finding a new path.
The 'R.O.S.E.' fund helps women rebuild their lives, their self esteem and their physical injuries after surviving domestic abuse. The R.O.S.E. Fund (Regaining One's Self Esteem) is a national non-profit, based in Boston MA, chartered to break the silence and the cycle of domestic violence (DV). Their programs increase DV awareness in the community and recognize, assist and empower women who have broken the cycle of domestic violence.
In addition to self esteem, R.O.S.E. also has a 'Reconstructive Surgery Program' which enables female survivors of domestic violence to rebuild their lives by providing them with free facial and dental reconstructive surgeries.
These free medical procedures address a wide range of injuries often sustained by the female survivors of domestic violence; and include:
Scar revisions
Medical services and surgeries associated with injuries to the head, neck, ears, nose and throat (ENT)
Dental (ranging from chipped to missing teeth)
Oral/Maxillofacial procedures associated with injuries of the jaw and associated eating and chewing issues.
Anyone that meets these 3 simple criteria may apply.
You can apply if you:
Are a female survivor of domestic violence with a medical injury that is a direct result of an incident in an abusive relationship and is in need of a facial and/or dental reconstructive surgery.
Are currently in a safe place (i.e., you have been out of the abusive relationship for at least 1 year).
Do not have the financial means to otherwise pay for the surgery on your own.
How do you apply?
Applications are on-line at www.rosefund.org. On the left hand side of the home page will be a link to the Reconstructive Surgery Application (http://www.rosefund.org/applications.html). The on-line application can be filled out in just a few minutes.
For more organizations assisting women in domestic abuse situations, please visit the following website:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/help/dv.htm
Please pass on this information to any woman you feel could use it or needs support.
Aimee Boyle is a regular contributor to EmpowHer.