Dade City, Florida
On January 24, 2012, Melissa Dohme’s life changed forever. Her abusive ex-boyfriend attacked her outside her mother’s home. She was stabbed 32 times and left for dead.
When the rescue team arrived, they saw the severity of the wounds and immediately called for a helicopter to airlift Melissa to the nearest trauma center. The helicopter crew administered blood transfusions in flight to help keep her alive.
Doctors worked tirelessly to save her when she arrived at the emergency room. She flat-lined four times on the operating table and suffered a stroke in her cerebellum due to loss of blood. Melissa lost her entire blood volume and needed 12 units of blood to survive.
“I am forever grateful for the donors who saved my life! I hope my story will inspire others to donate because you never know if you, a friend, parent or loved one will be the one who desperately needs donors to be saved.”
-Melissa
She has always been passionate about donating blood, knowing that such a simple act could save so many lives. Melissa donated for the first time at her high school blood drive. After graduation in 2010, she began working at Morton Plant Hospital in Guest Services where she was on the blood drive team—helping recruit donors, setting up for the blood drives and donating herself.
Melissa has now dedicated her life to speaking out against domestic violence and proudly works as an advocate for a nonprofit organization, Hands Across the Bay. Melissa says “My passion for recruiting blood donors lives on through our annual Hands Across the Bay blood drive. I hope you join me in giving the gift of life!”
Melissa recently hit her 15th donation milestone…giving back to help those in need just like she was.
May 2020 - In March 2017, Melissa married Cameron, one of the firemen who responded to the scene of the horrific attack that nearly took her life. Since then, Melissa has continued her work at Hands Across the Bay as a full-time violence prevention advocate and an international speaker. She also finds time to help run their annual blood drive. And now, she and Cameron are embarking on an unusual adventure together: an alpaca therapy farm. With a herd of nine fluffy alpacas in their backyard, they’re putting the finishing touches on The Remedy Farm, a place created for healing and love.
