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Flandreau Woman Takes Her Life Back From Abuse
October 19, 2009 | KSFY

Marie Drapeau: "No one has the right to be hit, that no one has the right to be spoken to, that no one has the right to be demeaned."

Marie Drapeau was a victim of domestic abuse until this past summer, when she decided to take her life back.

She says she decided to get help after her husband at the time beat her, fracturing the bones around her eye.

She was afraid to ask for help.

Now, she's no longer afraid.

Marie Drapeau knows what it's like to have someone you love beat you to the point that you have to go to the hospital and explain what happened.

Many refer to domestic violence as a hidden problem but check the number of protection filed in Minnehaha County alone and there's nothing hidden about it.

More than 11-hundred in 2006.

More than 12-hundred just one year later in 200 and again in 2008.

And this year, so far, more than 1000 protection orders have been filed.

Then there's this...Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin says some insurance companies are considering injuries sustained during domestic violence as a pre-existing condition as a reason to deny insurance coverage.

Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin: "One out of every four women in the United States are victims of domestic violence. Fifteen and a half million children are exposed to domestic violence every year."

Marie Drapeau is out of her abusive relationship but adds she's still struggling to feel completely safe.

"The main thing I wanted to do was just for everything to stop just have everything stop and be okay again," said Drapeau.

Marie was last the victim of domestic violence four months ago.

She has a young daughter and says part of the reason she is now speaking out is to teach her daughter that abuse is wrong.

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