My husband beats me all the time but I have to stay because of my children...

My name is Harriet Namondo, I am 26 years old. I suffer physical abuse from my children's father. We have three children and he beats me all the time for no reason.

The reason I am sharing my story is because I don't know what to do to leave. Everything I say makes him beat me. At times my punishment will be starvation even with the kids.

Everytime I run away, my grandmother will send me back because she says I have to stay with the kids. At times when I run, he will come to my grandmother's house and beat me. He will beat me and take me back by force and I will be forced to stay because of my children. My grandmother always tells me never to leave my children behind. She says I have to endure because of my children. It pains me because the children see when he beats me and they cry about it all the time. I don't want them to see me like that... It pains me when I see them crying because he is beating me.

One time he beat me until I almost lost my eye. My grandmother took me to the hospital to examine my eye and we found out I was pregnant, instead of going to the police, she told me to go back and be with him because I cannot do that to the father of my children.

I don't know what I have done to deserve this. Sometimes he will beat me and throw my clothes out and ask me to go. I will go to the neighbor to help fry garri so I can get my transport. He will come and scatter the woman's garri and beat me even more. I don't know if I am cursed on not.

The worst one was when he beat me until they had to operate my leg. This is a picture of my leg.

I don't want to be with him but I don't want to leave my kids behind. I have almost lost my life because of my kids.

I am dying inside and I don't know what to do. I heard about the work you are doing and decided to come and ask for help.

Please tell me what to do...

Harriet Namondo