DETROIT – The fact that Brandi Morey-Pols is able to even sit down and share her story two months after her son was murdered is unbelievable, but it’s a way for her to heal, bring change and help victims.
Related: Meet the women helping others Live Without Fear
Morey-Pols had been the victim of domestic violence years ago, she knew the signs and she knew what to look for. Escaping that relationship wouldn’t end the violent cycle. But she moved on and had a son, Rowan.
“He was just a sweet little boy who loved golf and tell you how good he was at it,” Morey-Pols said.
She shared custody with Rowan’s father.
“I think Mike knew he was going to lose the custody, yes, and there was no way he could let that happen,” Morey-Pols said. “I always held out hope that he loved him in some capacity, but his hatred for me overtook anything.”
In a murder-suicide in August, Rowan was killed and his father took his own life.
Rowan was six years old.
“He took a really big part of our family,” Morey-Pols said. “I went to every level that I could think of all the resources that are supposed to help you, and they didn’t. If anything, they were prejudiced against me and had this idea of what I was, a screaming mother. What else would you be if you’re that worried for your child?”
She’s sharing her story and the system failures while depending on HAVEN for her own healing.
“They’re giving resources to women that I didn’t have,” Morey-Pols said. “And even being here today, learning that there’s a trauma group I can join here because I’ve been looking for something like that for what we’re going through. There aren’t words.”
For years, she and her friends spent time raising money for HAVEN and now she needs it more than ever.
More: Why HAVEN is so important to Metro Detroit
It’s the county’s only 24-hour emergency shelter for domestic violence and sexual assault victims and their children. The nonprofit provides shelter, counseling, advocacy, and educational programs to nearly 30,000 people each year, helping people across Metro Detroit.
Local 4 is teaming up with HAVEN for our “Go 4 It: Living Without Fear” event to collect basic needs for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
You can learn more here: Here’s how to donate to survivors of domestic and sexual violence
We want to honor those making a difference. Click here to nominate someone who’s Going 4 It in your community. We’ll be featuring your nominees every month on Local 4 and ClickOnDetroit.
Thanks to our Go 4 It sponsor partners, Masco, Henry Ford Health, and the Gilbert Family Foundation.