Melanie Hillier:
CLASS OF 1976
Campbell High SchoolClass of 1976
Smyrna, GA
J. J. Daniell Junior High SchoolClass of 1972
Marietta, GA
Melanie's Story
Well, in High school I wasn't a very outgoing person. I had horrible crooked teeth. Which made me very self consious. It wasn't until I got my braces on did I come out of my shell, but still not very outgoing. We lived in an apartment complex called River Parkway that my mom and my step-dad managed, we lived there until I graduated and moved out on my own. I did not attend College because I thought I wasn't smart enough to go! I just sort of bummed around until 1977 when I got married for the first time ( that didn't last long, LOL). After my divorce I decided to try and go back to school, so I enrolled in Marietta Area Vo-Tech to get my teaching certificate. I then started teaching at Kindercare for a while. Then started teaching at Wood Acres Country Day School. Did that for a couple years.
Not real sure of the years between that and 1986 when I met the love of my life, to whom I have been married to for 22 years, together 26! We were married in 1990 while we were living in Florida. He worked for Circuit City and we moved around alot.
We started out in Ga, went to Nashville, Tn. from there we went to Charleston, SC, from there we went to Virginia Beach, from there we went to Florida, from there we went to California, from there we moved to Houston Texas, and from there we moved back to Ga. in 1995. While we were in California and texas we were trying to start a family, unfortunately found out I couldn't conceive. We moved to Texas, and there found out that I had a disease called Neurofibromatosis, which is incurable. And the told us even if I happen to get pregnant, our children would be born with it. I was having terrible back and leg pain, which dr said was from surgery I had to retrieve eggs for a fertilization treatment. I t turned out to be 2 tumors on my spinal cord. I had to have surgery right away. At the same time they discovered a brain tumor. The Drs were not that concerned with that as much as my back. So we were just going to watch that for a while. In the past few years I have had at least 20-25 surgeries to remove tumors. All the while the brain tumor was still there.
When we moved to Texas we started talking about adoption, we were going to adopt a baby girl, but after 3 days the birthmom changed her mind. Then we were told of a baby boy that was 8 months old and would be be interested! We were and we adopted him in October of 1993. We lived in Texas for 2 more years and thern moved back to Ga. In 1998, we decided to adopt again and the Lord brought us a young lady who wanted to give up her baby, everything worked out great. She and her 3 year old daughter came to live with us so we could care for them during the pregnacy. Everything was going great, she started having contraction on her exact due date, but things went horribly wrong and the baby died. We were all heartbroken! In 2000, we decided to adopt again, this birthmom worked with me, how convienent. right? We were with her every step of the way. The baby was born C-section, and we brought him home the next day. Things started going horribly wrong with this adoption as well. The birthmom did not tell us that the birthfather ...Expand for more
was against the adoption, we fought in court for 4 months, and the birthfather won. we had to give up our new baby boy. This almost sent me over the edge! I wanted to end my life. But I didn't, as you can see by this text.
Sometime, I think in 1996, I developed a tumor on my sciatic nerve, which as very painful and had to have surgery to remove it, it turned out to be a complicated surgery and recovery was long. Thankfully I had wonderful church family and neighbors to help out. Brain tumor still just there! No problems. I had additional surgeries after that. In 2002, we moved again to Hoschton,Ga. We have been living here for 10 years now and I have had a surgery almost every year. In about 2003, I started having problems with nerves on the left side of my face and my left ear and eye. Turns out the tumor decided it wanted some attention, I was scheduled for a procedure on the tumor in Nov. however my husbands mom became very ill and we postponed the surgery. Another year went by and I could no longer take the pain. So I had a procedure done called Stereo Tatic Radio Surgery, which is basically radiation. I have been pain free since the day of the surgery. However, the tumor is still there! But it's dead inside. I still have to have follow up MRI's to make sure it's behaving itself. Its almost 2013 and I haven't had a surgery all year!! For me that's awesome!!
In 2008, I decided I wanted to go back to school to earn a degree in Education. In 2010, I changed my major to Human Services, focusing on Gerentology ( working with the elderly) I am currently one class away from graduating with my Bachelors in Human Services. made Dean's list 4 times, and National Honor Society, and maintaining a 3.75 GPA. I must say if you had asked me back in high school where I saw myself 20-30 years It would not have been in College, much less with a high GPA. I hated school back then.
I am looking forward to doing my intership in Jan of this year, which prayfully will turn into a full time job. I am a full time Nanny now,( but I don't live with the family) I go to their house everyday at 6:30, get kids up, bathed, dressed, breakfast, and then off to school, come home do homework, then start picking up the kids and then come back to my house(sometimes theirs) until 5-5:30. On Mon. and Thursday go to school from 6 to 10. Get up the next day and do it all again. Mean while, taking care of my family, my house, my dogs etc. By the end of my day i am done!!!
Our son is almost 20 years old and still lives at home and probably will be for a long time. We found out when he was in first grade that he has some learning disabilities, and neurological problems do to being born to a crack/alcoholic birthmom! He was born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, he will have issued the rest of his life! It has been a challege for us everyday, as we were not prepared to parent a child with disabilities. But he has brought us as much joy as heartache. Its so hard as a parent to see your child struggle and know it could have been prevented!! Sometimes I just want to ring that girls neck!!!
But overall, life is good and we have a lot to be thankful for.
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