“I had an abortion on June 10th, 2021. This is not a story I ever intended to share, but given the circumstances in Texas, I feel it’s important. Today, as I continue grieving over my unborn son, I also grieve for the helpless women who won’t get the opportunity I had.”
Irini Orihuela
‘I was patient zero. All we wanted was our baby boy, but we knew we couldn’t be selfish.’: Woman with severe blood clot cyst shares abortion story in response to ‘horrifying’ Texas abortion ban
We Don’t Die When Grief Consumes Us (Even If We Think We Might)—We Live To Keep Our Loved Ones Hearts Alive, Forever
“He wasn’t supposed to die. He was so young. Smart. Full of life. He couldn’t leave us. I waited for his bike to come home, to hear its noise ringing in the street. But our home was silent. And inside me, it wasn’t.”
‘My weight fell to that of an 8-year-old. I thought I was FAT.’: Woman battles anorexia, binge eating disorder, ‘Recovery has helped me discover myself’
“I began cycling through extreme weight loss programs, plans and fads. My efforts backfired, and I soon had a new sinister predicament with which to contend with.”
‘I’d PANIC when my father pulled up to the school. ‘Wendy is going to see the PIMPLE doctor!’: Woman overcomes acne and mental health struggles
“I’d wake up early enough to reapply makeup on top of the makeup I slept in then get back into bed so I could look ‘pretty’ for my boyfriend when he woke up.”
‘I was 8, ‘dating’ everyone in my grade for validation. I was acting out to feel something, ANYTHING.’: Woman overcomes body image issues, finds online support community
“I posted a TikTok, and it skyrocketed from one view to one million views within hours. Then thousands of hate comments came in.”
‘I felt an almighty THUD, initially I thought I was being ATTACKED. I fell backwards, and my head hit the floor.’: Paralyzed woman becomes athlete, searches for cure, ‘I’m not sitting and waiting, I’m facilitating the process’
“‘Get up!’ everyone shouted. I couldn’t move ANYTHING. I looked up and realized a man fell off the balcony. He landed on my head.”
‘I refused to go to church on Mother’s Day because I couldn’t bear it.’: Woman opens up about infertility struggles, ‘It is not a big, bad secret’
“I learned quickly how much society attributes a woman’s self-worth to her childbearing abilities.”
‘Where is your husband?!’ I took the kids to a party less than 48 hours after giving birth, newborn in one arm, champagne in the other.’: Mom overcomes affair and alcoholism for her kids
“I earned points by doing things he wanted, when he wanted, how he wanted: cleaning the condo, home-cooked meals, editing his work emails, sexual favors. When I hit 1,000 points, he asked me to marry him. For him, it meant ‘I control you.’”
‘When they laid him on my chest, I was completely silent.’: Rainbow baby with rare genetic condition helps mom find new appreciation for life
“Finally, we had an answer. I’m not sure if there’s anyone else currently alive with it. Every milestone was like winning the lottery.”
‘I was 20 pounds over the weight limit. ’This is it, Bekkah. You have to change.’: Mom credits ‘the power of a mother’s love’ with kickstarting incredible weight loss journey
“After just under 30 pounds of weight loss, I became pregnant. I was terrified. I had not been below 300 pounds in five years, but I knew what I needed to do.”
