The family of Sonya Lee, who was left brain damaged after her former partner kicked and stamped on her head 17 times, was told she had just one hour to live.
Speaking on RTÉ's Claire Byrne Live, Sonya said she was "doing alright" as she sat beside two of her sisters, Aisling and Natalie.
Last Friday, her former boyfriend Lance Dempsey was sentenced to 11 years in jail with the final 18 months suspended for attacking her in Cavan town in March 2018.
Natalie recalled going into the hospital to see Sonya the next day. "That is an image I will never get out of my head, we were told she had only one hour to live and we got in a priest to bless her.
"But thank god she pulled through."
It was only while Sonya was fighting for life in hospital, having suffered broken bones in her face and bleeding on the brain, that it was also discovered that she was pregnant.
Aisling recalled visiting Sonya in the Mater hospital, Dublin. "The doctor said Sonya had some good news. She was 15 weeks' pregnant - I looked over and she had a big smile on her face."
"That image I will never get out of my head"
— Claire Byrne Live (@ClaireByrneLive) June 22, 2020
Sonya Lee was the victim of a brutal attack and has been left with permanent brain damage. Sonya and her two sisters Natalie and Aisling spoke to Claire on #CBLive pic.twitter.com/uu2nbVYtjR
Natalie said: "She was in hospital for nine months. It was very hard on all of us" and that nothing "was going to bring the old Sonya back".
Aisling now cares for Sonya, who lives with her. "It's very tough, I am looking after Sonya, her two babies and I have my own children, it is a struggle."
The sisters recalled that Sonya had been "brainwashed" by Dempsey and warned other women who were being abused by partners that it was "never too late to get out of those situations".
Aisling recalled: "Lance was telling Sonya things like 'you will never meet another man, no-one will ever love you like I will.' He also accused her of cheating on him - this was not true.
"He would also order her not to wear revealing clothes."
The sisters also revealed that Dempsey sent a Valentine's card and letters to Sonya when he was in prison, telling her he was sorry and that he loved her.
He pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm in the unprovoked attack over two years ago.
Cavan Circuit Court heard that Dempsey left Sonya with lasting brain damage following the attack on her at the bottom of a stairwell.
Despite the extent of her injuries, treatment for which included ten days in a coma in ICU, she went on to give birth to a healthy little baby boy.
"The helplines and all the services have gone through the roof since the lock-down" - Emma Murphy @enmmamurphy is a board member of @SAFEIreland and she joined #CBLive to talk about domestic violence. pic.twitter.com/ve6nRgcSpZ
— Claire Byrne Live (@ClaireByrneLive) June 22, 2020
Emma Murphy from SAFE Ireland told the programme that "helplines and all services" for domestic abuse victims had "gone through the roof" since the Covid-19 restrictions were introduced.
If you are affected by domestic abuse, please call the Women's Aid Freephone Helpline on 1800341900
