Benjamin Brainerd says his life was nearly cut short, after an argument between him and his ex-partner went horribly wrong. Brainerd says he struggled to try to protect himself when Mario Garnica Jr. apparently lost control and flew into a rage.
"That's when he snapped, and grabbed the metal pipe and started beating me with it," Brainerd recalled, "And after he broke both of my arms, I couldn't keep my hands up any more to protect myself."
Brainard says he was hospitalized for 19 days, and spent nine days in a coma, after the incident. In addition to two broken arms, Brainerd says he was stabbed in the neck and that he is now deaf in his left ear due to a cranial fracture.
Garnica, who taught bilingual first-graders at a local elementary school, was charged with attempted murder.
Brainerd says he also thinks 12 weeks of steroid use may have fueled Garnica's anger.
"Domestic violence occurs at least as frequently, and likely even more so, between same-sex couples compared to opposite-sex couples," according to a study published in September 2014 by the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy.
If you or someone you know is affected by domestic violence and need someone to talk to, click here. If you live in the Quad Cities area, local organizations such as Family Resources also offer help for those experiencing domestic violence.
There's a GoFundMe Page setup to assist Benjamin with his medical and personal expenses, click here to donate.