Article: Domestic Violence Survivor Shares Story With Local Teens

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- A domestic violence victim shared her story of survival with Albuquerque teens.
On February 2010, Michelle Garcia said her husband left her for dead after stabbing her, slashing her throat and then setting their home on fire.
She said she is now teaching high schoolers how to learn from her dangerous mistake.
"There are a lot of people who do not survive. I'm very lucky to be here today. I shouldn't be, but I am," Garcia said.
She said she is reaching out to Cibola High School students to teach them that it's critical to report domestic violence.
"Do not wait, because it can escalate to something that's happened to me. We don't know what would happen," Garcia said. "If someone threatens you, hits you or harasses you, it's not going to stop."
Garcia said it is her third time talking to students at Cibola since the incident. Teachers said her story has gotten through to a lot of students.
"It doesn't have to knock you down. You can (still) become still what you were supposed to be in life and move forward," Garcia said.
She said she wants teens to know that getting over abuse is possible. Garcia is starting a nonprofit organization to help victims of domestic violence. She is handing out information on where to go if they need help.
"I feel like this happened for a reason, and if I can use that to better anyone else's life, I'm going to try and do that," Garcia said.
Garcia's husband is still on the run, but investigators said they think he's still in Mexico.