“At least 20 million women in the United States are walking around with undiagnosed TBI.”

Dr. Maria Garay-Serratos says brain trauma in domestic violence victims is pervasive. In fact, her own mother passed away from head trauma, she says, after suffering abuse over the course of 40 years.

Garay-Serratos has only recently started talking openly about her family’s painful story. In her case, they were able to break the cycle of abuse. “My siblings and I live wonderful lives free from domestic violence,” she says, “We are on a mission forever.”