Anti-Domestic Violence Campaign Picks Up Momentum in Enumclaw

When nurse Maggie Baker clocked out of work in August of 1981, she had no idea she'd be bleeding almost to death by the roadside minutes later. 

Now a professor in nursing at the University of Washington, Baker is a prominent figure in the campaign against domestic violence and abuse. 

She chairs the King County Elder Abuse Council, and at a public event at St. Elizabeth hospital in Enumclaw she told her story to add fuel to her cause.

"The story of one person being affected by violence becomes the story of everyone being affected by violence," Baker said.

Baker was shot three times on Aug. 11, 1981 while driving home from work late at night. The shooter forced her vehicle to the side of the road then attempted to convince Baker to exit her vehicle.

When his coercion didn't work, he got violent.

"In a heartbeat his eyes went from calm and compassionate to vacant and crazy," Baker said.

Running from her assailant, Baker collapsed onto a nearby lawn in an attempt to secure help. 

"As a nurse, I knew it was almost over because there was no pain, and there was no fear," she said.

When she was rescued by passing college students, Baker spent the next year of life dealing with the aftermath, including post-traumatic stress disorder.

She would spend longer than that ensuring that her assailant be put to justice. It would be years before a court would put him away permanently. 

Baker related her story of violence with the efforts of the Enumclaw community to combat violence in its neighborhoods.

"It's hard to know what to do when you've become a victim. We need quality immediate and long-term health care," Baker said. 

To that end, Baker is openly supporting organizations/programs such as the Nurse Family Partnership and , the latter of which Enumclaw has recently adopted.

Tim Hart, lawyer and leader of a specialized anti-violence task force in the Seattle area, is supporting Baker and the Enumclaw community in their efforts against domestic abuse. 

"The key of our efforts is neighbors helping neighbors," Hart said. "We could have 1,000 cops but you can't possibly watch every kid all the time.

"It's with a great community synergy that we can make this work," he added.

Rene Popke of the Enumclaw Regional Health Foundation, is at the head of efforts in Enumclaw to bring Rachel's Challenge to life. The challenge was erected in memory of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine shootings 12 years ago. It aims to create a safe and proactive school environment free of bullying and social violence. 

"Our job is to keep people out of the hospital," Popke said jokingly of her foundation. "With Rachel's Challenge, the idea is to show we can make a difference as a community."

Victoria Thurman, another anti-violence campaigner, is a member of an anti-domestic violence task force in Covington. Like Baker, she, too, has a personal story of violence, this time in her own home.

"Sometimes we have a stereotype in our minds where we just don't think about domestic violence," she said. "I was embarrassed to tell this story at first, but it happens more than we care to know."