A Hialeah mother who was stabbed 34 times by her boyfriend on Father’s Day is sharing her story for the first time, hoping it encourages other victims of domestic violence to recognize warning signs and seek help.

Surviving the Attack

Heidy Morales spoke exclusively with NBC6 after spending two weeks in the hospital recovering from her injuries. Morales showed the dozens of stab wounds she suffered across her body in the June 21 incident.

Ring camera video captured the aftermath of the attack, showing Morales covered in blood as she ran for help and screamed for assistance. “At that moment, all I wanted was to survive. I just wanted to get out of the car,” Morales said.

Seeking Justice

According to police, Morales’ boyfriend, Leisnier Garcia, attempted to kill her. The two had known each other for years. Garcia is jailed on a charge of attempted felony murder with a weapon or aggravated battery and is awaiting trial.

Morales said she had rented Garcia an Airbnb for Father’s Day. At some point, she said, he received a text message that upset him. While driving home, Morales said she found it unusual that Garcia chose to sit in the back seat instead of the front. Looking back, she believes he had planned the attack.

“I believe God saved me, God and my will to live,” Morales said. “I kept thinking about my children. I knew I had to survive.”

After weeks of recovery in the hospital, Morales said she now wants to use her experience to help other women in abusive relationships. “If the person you’re with has unresolved trauma, don’t allow yourself to be abused,” she said. “Always pay attention to the red flags.”

Morales said she wants Garcia to face the maximum punishment allowed by law and spend the rest of his life in prison.

Original reporting: NBC6 Miami — read the source article.