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.
As A Woman Dating A Disabled Person, I Am Shocked At The Things People Say
“Jason’s disability is an important part of him, but it’s not the most important thing about him. Disability shouldn’t ever make someone less worthy of finding love.”
‘A tear of pride rolled down his cheek. ‘My son.’ Even if my husband was on the other side of the world, we were together.’: Military wife shares son’s journey with Down syndrome, ‘Focus on the good’
“My husband and I sat silently in the front seat of my car. ‘Your baby has Trisomy 21.’ For a moment, my heart stung. My husband deployed to the Middle East for 6 months. Our adventure continued.”
‘Can you adopt my baby?’ 6 weeks later, our world came crashing down. ‘How could this happen AGAIN?’: Couple battling infertility share foster care journey, ‘There’s purpose in the pain’
“All the puzzle pieces came together right before our eyes. ‘There’s no way we can experience any more loss.’ We received the most dreaded message… it didn’t feel real. I knew there were miracles to come.”
‘If I sent you home now, I’d be ashamed to call myself a nurse.’ She held my hand, and advocated for me.’: Chronic illness warrior inspired to become nurse after act of kindness
“I relied on nurses for almost everything. Without hesitation, they lifted my spirits and held my hand. They allowed me to trust the health care system again and reclaim my passion. I knew I wanted to be part of that change.”
‘How many kids do you want?’ I wasn’t your ‘typical maternal’ type. I convinced myself I wasn’t cut out for it.’: Mom of 2 admits ‘maternity can be born with your baby’
“As she was placed on my chest for the first time, I felt such purpose. Maternity can be born at the same time as your baby.”
‘Why did you keep having kids if you weren’t happy?’ I was the ‘bad guy’ for breaking up my family.’: Single mom of 4 navigates life after divorce, ‘Happiness comes first’
“From the outside looking in, we were the perfect family. ‘Maybe if we just take this one vacation, everything will magically change.’ I felt worthless and unloved. My boys were the only thing that made life worthwhile.”
‘I have two toddlers that need a place to stay.’ He was nonverbal, drug-exposed, and had a brain lesion. We were terrified.’: Military family adopts brothers from foster care, ‘Miracles happen every day’
“We decided to put our YES out there and let God take care of the rest. The social workers started bringing in medical equipment, trash bags full of belongings. It was magical and heartbreaking all at the same time.”
‘What am I doing wrong?’ Our typically fun little boy seemed like a shell of himself. He didn’t like being touched or hugged. I blamed myself.’: Mom shares son’s autism diagnosis journey
“I always knew my son was different. He fixated on things that seemed odd. The way a hairbrush felt, tags on his clothes, the sound the dog’s collar made when he scratched it a certain way. I didn’t feel like I was doing a good job as his mom.”
‘The first 8 years of being a parent were rough. ‘It’s the after-baby blues. They’ll go away.’ I felt like a failure.’: Mom shares journey with postpartum depression, ‘The NOW is where I’m content’
“I hated watching my husband sleep when I was exhausted. I felt such emptiness. I was told, ’It’ll get better when you get out of the house more.’ I always responded, ‘Yeah, you’re probably right. But I knew it wasn’t the case. I was depressed again.”
‘Her birth mom is pregnant again.’ This news brought me to my knees. Could I handle two babies, only 11 months apart?’: Single foster mom adopts sisters, ‘It’s been beautiful and redemptive’
“She had been placed in another home but it wasn’t a good fit. 4 days later, she was in my arms and it was an instant connection. I was so in love with this baby girl. Months later, we got some surprising news.”