Chefs serve up compassion

LIBERTY — Lillian made the mistake of thinking the abuse was finally over.

After all the promises and apologies she heard, she kept making her way back to a man who abused her for nine years.

The most recent episode in April left her in a coma for six weeks, bruised and battered, with lasting physical and emotional scars. Lillian, who asked The Vindicator to use her first name only, suffered two brain aneurysms after a beating by her former boyfriend.

The mother of eight, who has permanent brain damage, sat quietly Sunday as she waited to take part in the fifth annual Chefs’ Secrets fundraiser to benefit Sojourner House of Youngstown.

The shelter is helping Lillian get back on her feet, and she has a message for victims of domestic violence who are suffering in silence.

“I’m here to tell women don’t go back,” she said. “It doesn’t get easier; it only gets worse.”

Read the full story in Monday’s Vindicator and on vindy.com