As is often the case, people need to get help from a combination of sources to put their lives back in order. After both marriages Mason needed the help of programs funded by United Way of Elgin. The Community Crisis Center and Prairie State Legal Services helped her get her life back together.

During her first marriage, Mason's husband became physically abusive. She was pregnant with their child and she needed help. She turned to the Community Crisis center. They took her in, provided a safe environment and experienced counsel. They also put her in touch with Prairie State Legal Services to help keep her safe and end her marriage.

"The legal advocate from the Community Crisis Center and the lawyer from Prairie State Legal Services treated me with a great deal of respect," says Mason. "They were courteous and professional."

Prairie State Legal Services provides free legal services for civil cases to residents of Kane County to stop family violence, prevent homelessness, and secure basic income and medical care. There are 150 private attorneys in Kane County who volunteer their time to Prairie State to help low income individuals with their legal needs. In Mason's case, Prairie State Legal Services helped Mason obtain civil Orders of Protection to prevent her husband from having more contact with her or her son, and were able to help Mason obtain a divorce through their Pro Bono Project.

Ten years later, Mason was ready to take another chance and married again. This man also became abusive. She wanted her family to remain together, so she stayed with her husband hoping he would change.

"Everyday ordinary people think that women cause this problem. It's not something the women do. But women don't always believe the honeymoon is over. They believe he won't do it again," says Mason.

Soon, Mason's arguments with her husband became more frequent and physical. When he started to hurt her son, Mason asked him to leave their home. Her husband then assaulted her severely. With less then 2 weeks to go before Christmas, Mason called the Community Crisis Center who again helped her with her immediate needs and brought her together again with Prairie State Legal Services to begin solving her legal problems.

"The people from Prairie State took pictures and endured wet shoulders from consoling me. They reinforced the fact that I was doing the right thing. They would do anything to help me in any way they could. They were true human beings and not robots."

Again the lawyers at Prairie State Legal Services assisted Mason in the process of obtaining the Orders of Protection for her son and herself, that would help to keep her husband from causing them further harm. Eventually, they helped her obtain her divorce, through their Pro Bono Project.

Mason's husband was sent to prison for 2 years. He is due to be released this October. Mason is already working with Prairie State Legal Services to take steps to insure that her husband won't hurt her or her son when is released.