After enduring almost 10 years of abuse, Shondel Williamson, 26, summoned enough courage to walk away from the toxic relationship, taking her two young children with her.
Just when she was starting to rebuild her life, working and caring for her two boys, her life changed tragically within a twinkle of an eye. Her former lover and father of her children, Alfred De Younge attacked her with acid, burning away her nose, eyes and upper body.
According to Capitol News, the perpetrator disguised himself as a woman and gained access to her friend’s house in Amsterdam Berbice, Guyana, where she was staying and poured the acid on her while screaming, “If I cant have you, no one else can”
Williamson was hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital for almost nine weeks fighting to save her sight. Her face is badly disfigured and the extent of her injuries are so severe that she is not able to receive care in Guyana. Therefore she must travel overseas for treatment to reconstruct her face and save her sight.
Fortunately, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Saving Hands Emergency Aid (SHEA) has been able to secure treatment services for her at a top US hospital, where she will receive state of the art treatment, from some of the best doctors in the field.
Despite her challenges, she intends on becoming an advocate for domestic violence and wants both women and men in abusive relationship to walk away before it is too late.