Her Biggest Hit Was About Her Problem

The title is part of a tweet I read the other day, in reference to Amy Winehouse and her song 'Rehab'. Oftentimes we forget that most things written are a direct result of an experience.  

I read a post from yet another social network, which started my wheels turning as usual.  We put so much time and emphasis into grieving or marveling over celebrities that have succumbed to death as a result of the over indulgence of drugs and alcohol.  We speak of how saddened we are that they have died at such an early age.  It's tragic! We have a '27 Club' for artists such as Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain and now Amy Winehouse has been added.  There are other individuals that are noted in this club that have not been mentioned in this post. Just keeping the list a bit short to prove a small point.  These are names that most people recognize and continue to speak of long after their passing. My question at this moment is, do you recognize the following names?:

Lisa Steinberg - NY, age 6
Annette Anderson - GA, age 37
Valerie Anne "Bubble" Barker - VA age 20
Layne Bryan Banik - NE age 2
Debra Breaux - AZ age 38
Jacob Breaux - AZ age 4
Melissa Breaux - AZ age 7
Tamara Nicole Zimmerman - SC 4 months
Kimberly Dabney - MD age 40
Darlene Dowsey - MD age 27
Carol Evans - OH age 72
Connie Bradway - NC 28(pregnant)

9 times out of 10 you don't recognize these names. The question is why?  I can tell you that from this list, Lisa Steinberg, died at the age of 6.  Lisa was unconscious, bruised and blue.  Allowed to be a victim of brutality, neglect and destruction. A senseless killing.  Her parents(adoptive) Joel Steinberg, a NY Attorney and Hedda Nussbaum a writer. Both Lisa and Hedda, victims of family and domestic violence.  Lisa had a baby brother found the same time his sister was, tied to a play pen with a rope, clothes soaked in urine and body covered in dirt.

Darlene Dowsey, age 27, mother of 2. Shot in the head by her estranged husband. Darlene tried to do everything right, protective orders, police attention, family support.  It wasn't enough.  I still see Darlene's smile, as she was always alongside my hairstylist working on her own clients head and telling jokes.    A senseless killing!

These names belong to those that were not celebrities belonging to the "I did everything right' club or the 'Many Reasons Why I Should Stay' club.  Yes, their biggest HIT was definitely about their problems. 

Do me a favor make a mental list.  Think of three women you know.  Consider.....statistically 1 out of every 3 American women has been a victim of domestic violence, is currently being abused or will suffer abuse during their lifetime.  Think of how much attention is paid to the victim whose protective orders lie at the bottom of a 12 inch stack of papers on a Friday afternoon, on the clerks desk.  The clerk decides to take an extended lunch, returns only to add more documents to the 12 inch stack instead of working through it.  Victim is shot and killed Monday morning, 7:30 a.m. as her child boards the school bus.

No One death is less or more important than the other; but more emphasis needs to be put on HOW to prevent such.  We have the ability to make a difference!