Melissa's Story

“Nights like these repeated themselves continuously throughout Melissa’s childhood.”   

When Melissa first came to our door her arms were covered in scars. Melissa’s home life was so stressful that she began to cut herself.  For months before she came to us, hurting herself was the only way she could take her mind off the most awful pain in her life—her father. 

    Melissa’s parents never married, and though her dad did not live with her, he was around enough to have a horrific effect on her.  As far back as she can remember, Melissa recalls her parents fighting.

    One night, Melissa awoke to screaming.  Frightened, she tried to block out the argument by hiding under her blankets.  And when that did nothing to calm her, Melissa tiptoed into the adjoining bedroom only to find her father hit her mother so violently that she fell unconscious to the floor. 

    Nights like these repeated themselves continuously throughout Melissa’s childhood.  Even when Melissa’s mother had a restraining order against her father, he still managed to hurt them.  Countless nights, Melissa remembers her father angrily pounding on the front door to be let in.  And when they would ignore him, he would persist for hours on end. 

    The tension between her parents was devastating to Melissa—and she began to hurt herself to release the sadness, fear and anger she was feeling.  For months, her mother was so preoccupied with keeping her safe from her father…that she never thought Melissa needed to be protected from herself, too. 

    And Melissa’s horrible secret wasn’t discovered until one evening when she was caught in the crossfire of her parents’ brutal fighting.  She was rushed to the emergency room after her father swung at her with a lamp base.  Melissa needed several stitches in her shoulder—but when the nurse asked Melissa to change into a hospital gown, she was horrified at what she found. 

    The State was then notified of Melissa’s dangerous home life, and although her mother truly had her best interests in mind, she realized she simply could not keep Melissa safe. 

    Melissa came to Mercy Home, where she’s finally found a loving family—and been given the guidance and encouragement to find peace within herself.  At last, thanks to the support of our faithful friends, Melissa’s beginning to rebuild her fractured life in faith, hope and love.