Rebecca Balfe is a former editor for Love What Matters. She resides in NYC, owning and rescuing adorable cats. She is an avid Lupus fighter and advocate.
‘Where do you get your energy?’ Apparently, I’m good at pretending. My condition was URGENT.’: Woman diagnosed with Addison’s disease, Type 1 Diabetes, ‘My diseases will NEVER stop me’
“I felt embarrassed, since there was ‘nothing wrong’ with me. I wouldn’t have survived much longer.”
‘A baby will solve it all.’ He didn’t want pregnancy to take away from HIS attention. It was the LAST STRAW.’: Woman finds love after abusive marriage, ‘It’s a process, but you WILL trust again’
“He dropped me off in the middle of the freeway while I was 7 months pregnant, and drove away. ENOUGH was ENOUGH. I met a one-of-a-kind man.”
‘I’d LOSE MY HEAD and blow up at the smallest situation. Visiting the kids left me feeling blessed to be ALIVE.’: Man seeks help for mental health, starts charity journey
“I burst into tears. ‘What’s wrong?!’ They were so confused. They didn’t know any different than the life they were living. Seeing these children happy inspires me to show more gratitude.”
‘A bridesmaid brought a pair of angel wings as a tribute to Jessica. The wings flew off the table and left us speechless.’: Cancer survivor honors friend, ‘I think of her every single day’
“I finally came up with the PERFECT tattoo design to honor her beautiful life. 2 months later, my husband pointed to a spot on my breast and said, ‘Right there, that’s new.’”
‘I told my future husband, ‘I’m a package deal.’ I was DETERMINED to adopt this little girl who’d stolen my heart years ago.’: Woman adopts after meeting her 6 years prior, ‘I am forever blessed’
“I sat at the bedside of this little girl for hours, counting the cockroaches which ran across the floor. Reluctantly, I picked her up. Soon, she was asleep in my arms. My heart changed.”
‘Will I love him as much as I love my daughter?’ He was placed onto my chest. Suddenly, there was NO fear.’: Mom to son with Down syndrome starts nonprofit, ‘There is joy after grief’
“I’d say to him, ‘I love you so much it HURTS.’ I couldn’t believe there was a time I questioned if this love between the two of us would be possible. I wanted to provide hope for other families.”
‘I believe I’m the woman you’re looking for.’ We’d reached out to EVERYONE in New York with her name.’: Adoptee finds biological family after 16 years
“A young woman opened the door and met me at the top of the staircase. I KNEW it was her. She hugged me, squeezing as if she never wanted to let go.”
‘You’re too young to have a sexual preference.’ I was bullied RELENTLESSLY. I was to find a wife and lead my household.’: Non-binary LGBTQ person shares journey, ‘Your queerness is your MAGIC’
“After SO much pain and anguish, I felt relief. I wasn’t changed, but for the first time, I accepted myself. For the first time, I said out loud, ‘I am gay.'”
‘Wouldn’t it be SO cool for her to be born at 11:11 a.m.?’ I kept praying, ‘God let it be.’ I HAD to have hope again.’: Couple adopts biological sisters after infertility, ‘Miracles do happen’
“I am not going to say it became rainbows and butterflies, because it didn’t. There was still this deep, deep ache and question of ‘why,’ and a yearning to become a mama.”
‘Mom, I want to join cross country!’ She looked confused. If your child had a life-threatening disease, you’d hesitate too.’: Runner with cystic fibrosis follows dream, ‘Giving up wasn’t an option’
“Who’d believe a little girl like me with such an evil disease would be SO GOOD. My mom called my dad and said, ‘Your daughter is winning, and not just by a little!’”