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.
‘He was arching his back and screaming for air. Literally, panting. We were stuck. All we could do was pray and pack.’: Family returns from Guatemala after almost losing son
“I wanted to scream, ‘This baby strapped to my chest almost died last night. Our world is falling apart.’ Our dreams were shattered. We found ourselves back in our hometown looking for purpose.”
‘I can’t understand you!’ I wrote it down on my hand. He started speaking slowly, as if I was less intelligent.’: Woman with facial anomaly hopes to ‘normalize all bodies’
“It’s exhausting trying to pump gas or sit in my kids’ karate class and be stared at constantly. When people see my face, they assume my intelligence.”
‘You should be grateful.’ I was shamed for being curious about my birth parents. I shoved my feelings down.’: Transracial adoptee shares journey to ‘help others feel less alone’
“’Where are you from?’ My first response used to be, ‘California,’ before I realized they wanted to know where I was ‘really’ from. I felt lost and alone.”
‘I’ll only play if you take your wig off.’ I was shocked and hurt. I let her bully me in my own house.’: Woman advocates for girls with alopecia, ‘Bald is beautiful’
“My wig fell off when I was playing on the monkey bars. My twin brother saw and came over to shield me as I tried to put it back on. I dreaded lice checks at school.”
‘I’m sorry I don’t smell like your mom.’ What the heck were we doing? We had no baby items at home.’: Couple adopts son with special needs, ‘We are finally a family’
‘Can you give me a call?’ There was a 3-week-old who needed a home. He had some medical concerns, but I felt drawn to the situation. I was apprehensive I was the one who pushed Ron into saying yes.”
‘Her birth parents wanted to spend time with her. I wasn’t sure if I would see her again. All I could do was pray.’: Mom describes emotional adoption, ‘She is our greatest joy’
“The birth parents might want you in the labor room.’ I started bawling and was so nervous. I prayed we’d all end up okay.”
‘My mom opened her gift. ‘There’s THREE shirts!’ They were 5, 2, and 9 months. It was daunting and overwhelming.’: Transracial adoptive mama urges ’love makes us a family’
“‘There are three girls.’ I immediately forwarded the email to Chris and added only one word: ‘Thoughts?’ Chris replied with two words: ‘Wow – what?’ It was time to throw logic out the window.”
‘His arms and legs, are they there?’ I couldn’t look at his picture.’: Mom says son with limb differences is ‘exactly who he is supposed to be’
“Friends would talk about how cute he was going to be. It was painful to hear family talk about his height or what sports he’d play. I knew there was a possibility we weren’t going to experience it.”
‘I guess you’re wondering about the results.’ It was like lightbulb after lightbulb going off.’: After diagnosis, woman advocates for autism in girls, ‘Representation matters’
“I’ve felt different my whole life. By high school, I was beginning to figure out I was queer. I’d assumed that was the thing ‘different’ about me. That’s not what happened. I was different at my core.”
‘Hold on to that dress for me.’ At this point, I was not having any more births. But I just knew.’: Mom saves dress for daughter’s adoption day, ‘It was worth the wait’
“My mother-in-law started to show me a bunch of little dresses she found. One of them caught my eye. ‘One day, I’ll have a daughter and she’s going to wear it.’ Then I got the call. ‘We have a birth mom, and she’s chosen you.’”