The Prettiest House on the Block: A Revealing Story of Domestic Partner Abuse

Patricia A. Schoch, RN, was on a house call as a hospice nurse, tending to the needs of a dying man. Patricia thought the man was mean, especially to his wife, but having no tangible evidence of abuse, couldn’t investigate and anyway, the man died shortly after that visit. Ten years later, Patrica had trained as a forensic nurse and was writing a column for an on-line health newsletter. She was particularly interested in writing about domestic partner abuse and put out the call for stories. Shame and secrecy being the hallmarks of abuse, no one answered. Then Donna did. Please tell my story, Donna pleaded. Patricia recognized Donna as the wife of the dying man she cared for in hospice, and when Donna finally recognized Patricia, they knew they had to tell Donna’s story. Patricia adds layers of compassion, expertise and finally hope to a usually hopeless story, and does it with a deft touch for understanding the human heart’s capacity for love, cruelty and ultimately forgiveness.