Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Rose Hiatt.
Hi Megan, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Almost 8 years ago on November 13, 2015, I was involved in a triple murder suicide in Jacksonville Florida. It took the lives of my father and my twin 5-month-olds Reese and Rose. The decision to leave my abusive military ex-boyfriend all happened because my dad cried on the phone to me earlier that day as I confided in him with the reality of hell that I was living. He begged me to leave for my twins, Reese and Rose. My ex wanted to take everything from me and make me watch.
At 3:00 pm on November 13, 2015, my ex arrived to the house as my father and I were packing mine and my daughter’s things. He asked my father to step outside so we could chat and feed the twins. We sat on the couch, and after a series of questions, Rush closed the front door went for the AR15 in the closet, and stated, “I’ll show you what over is b*tch.” “I’m going to kill your dad, and you’re gonna watch.” Screaming telling my dad to leave, he did what any dad would do and ran through that door. Rush shot him over and over and over again. I didn’t understand why my father kept getting up, later with his dying words, I found out it was because he didn’t want there to be any bullets left for me and the girls. My ex turned the gun to me and my daughters. He shot them in the back of their head; they had to wear bonnets to their funeral. I was shot in 7 areas of my body, still to this day having surgeries to fix my left leg. Still having health issues from the immense trauma of being shot close range with an AR15. I eventually lost my left eye, I was shot in the right of my chest, my left wrist, multiple times in the abdomen, and multiple times in the left leg.
Take a deep breath because I know that was a lot to read. My faith is the only reason I’m surviving, and I have made it my life’s work to be a domestic violence advocate and an empowerment speaker. To change the world with the story I have.
I am actively on the voices committee for ‘One Safe Place’ which is the Tarrant County Family Justice Center. I have done 10s of news interviews. I have done three podcast, one with military murder, minds of madness, and my most recent one on sword and scale. I am working on a book. I have spoken as a keynote speaker at press conferences on panels. Also have started a side hustle of meal prep and cooking for others in their home. Sourdough is my specialty, and it is such a healing process to dive into the kitchen and create. My ex-Rush and I, we were always creating in the kitchen. It has taken me a long time to find the joy of being in the kitchen when it was used as a point of abuse and punishment (like purposefully not eating what I made and dumping the plate in the trash).
I moved from Jacksonville Florida to Arlington Texas in June of 2019 in hopes of finding a surgeon that could help me walk again. Although that was not the only reason why I moved here, I knew the answer to my leg was somewhere in the DFW metroplex. In June of 2019, I had been confined to a wheelchair for almost 6 years. I could use forearm crutches for short walks into the gas station. But it wasn’t sustainable and was extremely painful. I saw 5 surgeons and was constantly referred until I came in contact with Dr. Arvin Nana with acclaim in Fort Worth. I had my first surgery during the height of COVID in July of 2020. 3 years later, I am walking completely unassisted. I’ll never be able to run a mile let alone half of one, but now I can complete everyday activities and walk a Costco with no pain. All of that with a leg that is a beautiful piece of art; it tells a story of triumph and never giving up. It tells the story that if you believe you can you will.
I don’t want my story to just be surrounded by the domestic violence and abuse side. My story is so much more than that. It is about picking myself up from the rock bottom and finding the joy in life again. It is strengthening my soul by healing the rips created by trauma. It is being so angry at the world but realizing you chose to live a better life.
I had 3 options 8 years ago when I woke up in the hospital. The first one was to commit suicide, and I don’t think anyone could have blamed me. The second was to live miserably the rest of my days on earth, finding no peace, no joy, no happiness. Being poor pitiful Megan for forever. Or the third, which was to make something of my life, to share my family’s story, to heal, to impact, and to truly be an example of “anything is possible.” I obviously chose the third. Now, that doesn’t mean that it was easy, but it has been so worth it.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The emotional heart-wrenching and agonizing pain of not having my children and father here on earth with me.
The physical limitations of not being able to walk for 7 years.
The constant surgeries going on 8 years. Finally at a point where I only need one in the next year.
The emotional rollercoaster ride that is mental illness and getting on the right medications and dosages.
Learning how to live again without them.
Learning to love again (now happily married going on 3 years).
Having to bury my daughters and father.
Having my daughters and father’s gravesite be in Florida and not here.
Learning how to live a normal life.
Knowing that I don’t have to be engorged in what happened to me every second of every day.
Learning to be more than what happened to me.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
Being a speaker came so naturally for me. Currently on a journey to do it full-time. I’ve branded myself as an empowerment speaker. I’m most proud of my advocacy work for domestic violence, this year I’m most proud of speaking for One Safe Place at their remembrance event. Where we remember the ones we’ve lost to domestic violence.
I’m most proud of realizing that my story is so much more than that day; it’s about the journey leading up to that day and The journey after that day.
I am a walking talking billboard for overcoming any obstacle and making your life into whatever you want it to be.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I LOVE the assortment and variety of restaurants and food. I love cooking and creating in the kitchen and am constantly trying new restaurants to recreate in my own home and for my small side hustle of meal prep clients.
The thing I like the least is that I have to use GPS wherever I go and never know what city I am in. Here you can drive on the highway for 12 miles and have gone through 5 different towns. In Jacksonville, you can drive for 40 min one direction and still be in Jacksonville.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/meganrosehiatt
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megan_rose_hiatt?igsh=aDM0cDl0cmg4OGFr&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/megan.rosehiatt?mibextid=LQQJ4d
