March 28, 2022 by Natalie Cochran
Survivor Advocate, Cheranda Robertson, Meets Domestic Violence Survivor LSLA Helped Thirty Years Ago – Here’s Her Story
Staff Attorney Cheranda Robertson works in our Crime Victims Unit within Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA). While handling some business in her private life, she met a woman who used our services 30 years ago, and now donates her time and money to legal aid advocacy. She shared her story with Attorney Robertson.
Many years ago, Monica became pregnant as a minor. Her father forced her to marry her boyfriend Robert, who soon became abusive toward her. Monica had no idea what to do or where to go, so she turned to Gulf Coast Legal Foundation (today known as Lone Star Legal Aid) for help.
Right before Monica’s 14th birthday, she and Robert moved in together. Monica started to notice red flags, like his tendency to drink alcohol. Alcoholism was common in Monica’s family before her parents divorced. Robert was also using drugs, verbally abusive, jealous, and possessive. “I was so young, I thought he was jealous because he loved me, and I was so used to my dad being an alcoholic that I thought it was normal for Robert to do it. I wanted my kids to have both parents since mine were divorced, so I stayed in it for the children, despite the abuse,” Monica said.
Robert constantly told Monica he would kill her, the children and himself if Monica ever tried to leave him. She was terrified to leave, but knew she needed to for the sake of her two children. Throughout their three-year marriage, they didn’t have many privileges. Monica reached out to nonprofits to help with electricity and other help. “When we received our tax refunds, I tried to use the money to buy milk, diapers and other necessities for my children, but before I knew it, Robert traded the money for drugs,” Monica said.
Monica reached out to us for a divorce and custody of their two children. We represented her and helped her achieve freedom from her abusive situation. She credits LSLA with changing her life and helping her start on a new path to safety and success.
Thirty years later, Monica achieved impressive occupational goals, and is now a thriving and successful businesswoman. She told Cheranda that she now donates financially to LSLA to give back to the organization who helped her and to help other women in her position. She also told Cheranda how much she wanted to thank our law firm for the difference we made in her life.
“It was a huge part of allowing me to escape a difficult and scary situation. I don’t know what would have happened if I had stayed married to Robert. He could have been dangerous. The attorney who was on my case made me feel heard, seen, safe and secure, and I never felt shamed,” Monica said.
Since Monica was provided the legal aid she needed to escape her abuser, she gives back to LSLA, along with other nonprofits benefiting survivors of crime. She financially contributes to teen shelters, churches, and organizations that work with human trafficking victims. “I wanted to give back what was given to me. I was put on this Earth for something bigger. I wanted to help by loving, educating, and advocating,” Monica said.
Cheranda noted that it is rare that attorneys see what happens on the other side of their work. Survivor stories like this give our staff motivation to continue to work with survivors of crime. “First, we see a victim-turned survivor who went from an awful situation with no resources, to working as an accomplished and successful businesswoman. Second, we see a client-turned-donor who vocally expresses her gratitude to our firm and is working to help other women struggling with what she herself overcame,” Cheranda said.
