Emily Richey is a graduate of Pace University NYC. She has written and edited for multiple online platforms, including Love What Matters. She spends her free time petting stray cats.
‘The night I found out, I circled the kitchen island, repeating, ‘God! I PRAYED for her!’ I was SO angry.’: Woman describes healing after little sister’s suicide
“When I say her name, I don’t imagine a hospital bed and a funeral. No, I imagine her great, big smile that lit up an entire room. I imagine her laugh, her soft hands and perfect pixie nose. I imagine her holding a flower crown on her head, the wind softly blowing her hair.”
‘Daddy, what did you do?’ Our charcoal grill was sitting in the middle of the room, towels blocking the windows. I started screaming.’: Woman shares grief of losing father to suicide
“One day, my dad handed me half of a rock. He pulled out the other half and said, ‘If you ever miss me, put the two halves together. Then it’ll be okay and we’ll be together.’ I didn’t really understand, but I took the rock.”
‘Will you be giving birth here or in the States?’ As soon as I heard that heartbeat, I knew my life was about to go down a very different path.’: Single mom travels the world with daughter
“We’ll be moving forward, hand in hand, for the rest of our lives. I’ve searched the world for love and she was within me the whole time.”
‘The morning AFTER walking the stage and receiving my diploma in active labor, I delivered a handsome baby boy.’: Teen mom shares son’s autism diagnosis
“Just a day out of high school, I’d become responsible for a whole new life. I was in complete control of our future… until I wasn’t. I put it on the back burner, thinking maybe he’ll ‘grow out of it.’”
‘At 19 years old, my period started and it did not stop.’: Woman goes viral for ‘700-day period,’ fights for answers
“When I got to the third floor, I lost vision. My ears had a whooshing sound. ‘You’ve gained a little weight. Maybe it’s taking your heart a moment to pump the blood through.’ I was still bleeding.”
‘I was in shock. My sweet little boy was never going to smile.’: Mom births son with Moebius Syndrome
“Every day, I made silly faces, weird sounds, and looked like a crazy mom, all in the hope he’d smile. Everyone told me not to worry, but my intuition was telling me something else.”
‘Mommy? I think I want to start using they/them pronouns.’ I knew the tremendous weight my response would hold.’: Mom to non-binary child urges ‘acceptance matters’
“My 5-year-old looked up at me with eyes full of hopeful expectancy. ‘But I can’t wear a dress, right?’ I looked into their eyes, spoke from my gut, and simply said, ‘Anyone can wear a dress!’”
‘We had one egg left, but couldn’t afford it. ‘I can be happy with just the four of us.’ It dawned on me… I never got my period.’: Mom battling infertility welcomes ‘miracle’ twins
“The moment the doctor turned on the ultrasound screen, there was a pause. ‘Remind me, did I give you anything to help trigger this pregnancy?’ Worried, we quickly replied, ‘No.’ She smiled even bigger and announced, ‘There are TWO babies in there!’”
‘She looks different. So what? Who doesn’t?’: Mom to daughter with rare conditions urges ‘being different IS normal’
“We got the most life-altering news. Our baby’s left arm curved in and her right leg was underdeveloped. Her thumb was missing all of its bones. She’s literally the only person in the world like her.”
‘A police officer was on the other end of the phone. ‘He didn’t have enough time to stop.’ They told me to take him off the ventilator.’: Woman becomes caretaker to husband after accident
“His body lay lifeless in the small bed. Monitors beeping, tubes coming out of every direction, ventilator helping him breathe. My husband of 7 years was in a critical condition, fighting for his life right before my eyes.”