Warner Robins Family Learns Through GA Cyber Academy and Gains Path for Healing

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Born in separate countries, at different times Hannah and Abby Vines are complete opposites.

“She’s all about the animals and insects and I’m more into music and art,” said 13-year-old Hannah.

Their night and day differences don’t seem to matter because they are sisters. After having two kids of their own, parents Sam and Christine felt compelled to adopt.

Christine said, “We found out about special needs children on a waiting list in Russia and we found out about Hannah and it was just immediate. We just knew that was the little girl we needed to help.”

In 2000, the Vines welcomed Hannah from Southern Siberia and two years later, continued their journey to China to bring home Abby. Both girls were born with cleft lip and palate.

“Hannah’s was more severe, it was more frontal…she was missing kind of half her nose…there was nothing there…no bone, no tissue,” said Christine.

Hannah’s malnourishment also caused her to develop vitiligo, a skin condition resulting in irregular white patches. Cleft palate and her skin condition caused her to become a victim of bullying at school.

“It started because I looked different (and my skin) and people were just really mean,” said Hannah.

The teasing, on top of the monthly medical trips to Atlanta made the decision to start home schooling, and eventually enroll in Georgia Cyber Academy, a simple one.

“It’s a very challenging curriculum, it’s state-mandated, they meet all the requirements, we do state testing, we have to maintain attendance, hours,” according to Christine.

It’s an online public school, minus the distractions of a classroom.

“It’s nice getting to go at your own pace, not be panicking the whole time about things that are due, I love it,” said Abby.

For 14-year-old Hannah, it has also allowed more time to pursue her Olympic dreams. She initially started gymnastics as therapy, but found she was quite the natural. In addition to being a competitive gymnast, Hannah also volunteers at the mini zoo inside the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Macon. She wants to become a zoologist one day.

Hannah and Abby are typical sisters. The road to recovery is one they wouldn’t have known existed if it weren’t for each other.

The girls have had 21 surgeries to date and will undergo several more for their cleft lip and palate.
To get more information on the Georgia Cyber Academy, visit www.k12.com/gca.