BAY CITY, Mich. -- October is Domestic Awareness month and a story from Mid-Michigan is highlighting the issue.

A Bay City man was arraigned after sheriff’s deputies said he tried to kill his ex-wife.

Robert Ellison, 42, was jailed on a $1 million bond, accused of stabbing the victim repeatedly.

Authorities were called by a resident of a home on Broadmore Street early Saturday morning. There police found the victim, a 28-year-old woman, in the basement of the home suffering from 17 stab wounds from a large kitchen knife.

The victim said she had lived with the man’s abuse for seven years, but never thought he’d go this far.

The mother of three was visiting Ellison and said he snapped. She was stabbed 17 times and a brother-in-law heard her screams and called 911.

“The next thing I know was I was getting stabbed,” she said. “And I thought the knife broke off in my arm.”

Police said that by the time they arrived, Ellison had fled the scene.

Ellison was found in Bay City a short time after the incident.

“They had to use 11 suture kits,” said the woman. “The most they ever had to use before was three.”

More than 100 stitches and staples later, the victim was released from the hospital.

“I honestly thought I was going to die,” said the victim. “I want to see him [put] away for life, so he doesn’t get to nobody,” she said.

She said her wounds will heal a long time before her heart does, but that she will recover with the help of loved ones.

Ellison was arraigned Monday and a preliminary exam is scheduled for Oct. 23.

If convicted on all charges, he could face life in prison.