I’ve always been a big believer in love at first sight. There’s nothing like meeting someone for the first time and feeling a connection.
Melissa Dohme’s first encounter with her husband Cameron Hill was certainly out of the ordinary, but for a very different reason.
When first responder Cameron first met Melissa, she was barely alive after a vicious attack.
But Cameron knew that they would meet again, and three years later he made her his wife.
Their first meeting was under horrifying circumstances. Melissa had been stabbed 32 times by her ex-boyfriend when she tried to break up with him.
First responders found the 20 year old woman bloodied and clinging to life when they arrived on the scene. Cameron was one of them.
Cameron and the other paramedics acted quickly to save Melissa’s life. Even in the midst of the desperate life-saving mission, Cameron couldn’t shake the feeling that he and Melissa would meet again in the future.
And fate intervened: 10 months later, they met again. Melissa had become an advocate for helping victims of domestic violence, and Cameron was in the crowd along with other paramedics at one of her public speaking appearances.
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Melissa had kept in touch with many of the first responders who helped save her that night, but she hadn’t seen Cameron since the night of the attack. She caught a glimpse of him in the crowd with the other paramedics.
Although the pair didn’t get a chance to talk that day, they were in each other’s thoughts from that moment on, and Cameron soon found a chance to contact Melissa.
He invited Melissa and her mother to the firehouse where he worked and gave them a tour of the facility. Later, he asked her out to dinner.
The couple had an instant connection, and Melissa was soon finding excuses to visit Cameron at the firehouse. After a long heart-to-heart one day, the couple realized they belonged together.
Surprise proposal
There was never any doubt in Cameron’s mind that the happy couple were meant to spend their lives together, and two years after they got together, he planned a special surprise.
The couple were at a Tampa Bay Rays game. Melissa had been invited to throw the first pitch to honor her work for survivors and victims of domestic violence.
Hill ran out to the Melissa as she was preparing to throw out the pitch. He had written a heartfelt proposal on the ball that Melissa was about to pitch, and he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him.
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The couple married in a fairytale ceremony. There were many first responders in attendance, including Melissa’s maid of honor – the police officer who first found Melissa on the night of the attack.
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Now Melissa wants the world to know her story. If you find yourself trapped in an abusive relationship, it can feel impossible to see a way out and happier times ahead. But Melissa is living proof that there is life and happiness after domestic violence.
Just look at Melissa’s story for yourself below. The couple really is proof that happiness is out there, even after tragedy:
Melissa is truly an incredible woman. Not only did she find her own happy ending, but she is a strong advocate for helping other victims of domestic violence. Many people have found hope and comfort from her story, and I hope we can spread it futher to other people who need some support.
Please help us spread Melissa’s story by sharing on Facebook and wishing the happy couple luck for the future. They are proof that it is possible to overcome domestic violence and find a happy ending.
