Imagine growing up surrounded by abuse. It's much more common than you might think.

We bring you the story of Davene, who just recently freed herself after a whole lifetime of domestic violence.

In her series, "In Pursuit of Happiness," Liz Hayes shows us how one woman overcame unbelievable obstacles.

"This is how I look at my life. Is for 46 years I have lived in domestic violence, it started as a little girl growing up," said Davene, 46.

Davene is just learning how to live a life free of violence. Her first abusive relationship at 18 left her shattered, but she soon found herself in another.

"I felt obligated to stay with him for the fact that I didn't know anybody in Chicago."

Soon her son started acting like the only father he ever knew.

"It became unbearable where my oldest son started behaving like his dad."

That was her breaking point.

"He was 10, at the time and he started acting out and beating on his sister because what you see, you think it's okay."

The Coalition Against Domestic Violence says boys who witness domestic violence are twice as likely to abuse their own partners and children when they become adults.

"I gave myself 3 months to get out of the relationship. I prepared myself."

But the worst was yet to come. Again she met a man who was abusive. Davene says he was the most haunting.

He emotionally blackmailed and berated her, strangled and beat her.

"If it wasn't for my son coming out of the room, he would have killed me. He was strangling me."

He claimed he had an illnes, and Davene felt bad for him.

"I tried so many times to leave the relationship, but that was brought up constantly."

She found out later he had made the entire thing up, even lying to his own family.

"I pretty much kinda, like stuck to myself. It was more about the intimidation if I went into public. He didn't care where I was at. He would scream, he would yell, he'd call me every name in the book."

She found the strength to leave him.

"When I left that day I had no place to go. I had no money in my pocket."

"He had told someone that if I ever went back to him, he was gonna kill me."

She found The Women's Community, and finally began to heal.
SHE FOUND THE WOMEN'S COMMUNITY....AND FINALLY BEGAN TO HEAL.

"What I needed to do was heal myself. And while I was here I did some research and study to find out who I really was."

She took up crstyal healing and began taking courses in reiki healing....and then she began writing a book about her journey.

"When I was here in late January, early February, I started writing my book.

Davene is learning to forgive and love herself for the first time. She's looking forward to having her book published one day, and hopes she can inspire others to better their lives....in pursuit of their own happiness.