When I was just eight, I was beaten so badly that I went into a coma for two weeks. I then went to live with an older sister who also beat me and finally when I was 15, I ran away from my Ugandan home and came to London hoping to find a better quality of life.
However, things didn’t change and the cycle of abuse continued. The older sister I came to live with also beat me and treated me like a slave.
Then I met Dan. I was 16 years old and he was 36. He treated me nicely and I felt that he understood me and all about my past. Dan kept saying that he loved me. It was the first time anybody had said that to me. As soon as I turned 18, we got married and I fell pregnant a few months later.
At about three months into my pregnancy things went downhill. Dan really changed. He didn’t want to buy anything for the baby, not even clothes. He kept on saying that he didn’t have money to waste. I became very paranoid at the thought of my unborn baby going through the same kind of abuse that I had.
One day I came across the City News and was so impressed with what I read, that I called the UCKG’s 24hr helpline while Dan was at work.
I was crying so much over the phone but the feeling of knowing that somebody genuinely wanted to help me and was listening to what I had to say was very motivating.
Things with Dan and I didn’t work out and we divorced but I now had a huge custody battle on my hands. My ex-husband was a barrister and so going against him wasn’t easy. He wanted full custody of our son Keeley and went as far as saying that I was mentally unstable and should only be allowed supervised visits at his house. The court battle went on for one and a half years and my chances of winning were very slim.
I just stayed focused and kept on praying. I knew I was a good mother; Keeley needed to be with me. I made sure that I didn’t break my Chain of Prayer and never gave up believing that God would see me through.
Eventually, the judge told the court that he found me to be a very honest and mature person, and awarded me full custody of Keeley. He is now four years old and we are both very happy. I allow him to see his father as I don’t want him to grow up hating anybody. I’ve also been able to put all my past tragedies behind me and look forward to a bright future with my son.
I’d also had severe back pains - a result of the beatings I received as a child - and during a prayer meeting one day, I was completely healed after 15 years of pain.
I just stayed focused and kept on praying. I knew I was a good mother; Keeley needed to be with me. I made sure that I didn’t break my 