Friend helps Mother of Four who Escaped Abusive Relationship

It has been almost two weeks to the day when Jennifer Belles said enough is enough to her mentally and physically abusive husband.

“He came home from work and was completely insane,” Belles recalled. “He was yelling at me and one of our children jumped on me when he threw a punch at me. He almost hit the baby. I told him to get out and haven’t seen him since.”

Not only did Belles have the courage to leave, she went public on Facebook and shared her story.

“A couple months ago one of my friends on Facebook was murdered by her husband because she didn’t tell anyone,” Belles said. “He stabbed her to death in front of her kids.”

That instance and the fact that she “couldn’t stand living like that anymore” promoted her to stand her ground.

Belles who is 27 and living in Elizabeth, has a hair bow business, My Little Cupcake, where she makes some money for her four children -- Jeremy, 6, Karissa, 4, Jonah, 3 and Jacob, 1.

A friend online Grace Henry who lives in Clark saw Belles’ story and wanted to help. She set up at gofundme website.

“We have seen this story before in the community end tragically,” Henry wrote. “But she finally had the courage to leave him. She has four children and no source of income other than her craft bow business and needs a boost to get on her feet. I know that none of us could imagine having to walk away from our spouses and raise our children alone. Let alone with no support. If everyone could give a few dollars to make sure Jennifer never has to rely on this horrible man for survival again, we could change her and her children’s life.”

Since the fundraising website launched, Belles has received around $300. She has already spent $100 to change all of the locks in her house and is using the rest to buy furniture for her family.

While married her husband refused to let her buy anything including proper beds for her children.

“I didn’t have much in the house because he was so controlling,” Belles said. “I was not allowed to have a dresser. My six-and-four-year-olds were still sleeping in toddler beds. I was finally able to buy bunk beds for them.”

The abuse continued for years where he would lock her out of their bedroom on multiple nights, making her sleeping on the floor of her children’s room.

Although her husband worked at night, he would still call or text her to yell and berate at her.

The worst instance was last year when Belles’ uterus ruptured causing her youngest child to be born early and be placed in intensive care.

“My husband refused to come home, he didn’t want to see the baby and accused me of killing the baby,” Belles said. “Doctors thought he would have brain damage but luckily he is healthy now.”

Overall, Belles is “overwhelmed” by the response she has received to her story and help from strangers.

“I didn’t even expect that at all,” Belles said. “I am very grateful.”

To donate CLICK HERE.

To purchase bows from Belles visit her Facebook page HERE.

For information on domestic violence in Union County CLICK HERE or call the 24-hour hotline 908-355-HELP(4357).