“Those next 7 days were full of highs and lows, holding on to slivers of hope. My husband felt robbed. After two girls, he was looking forward to a little boy. We grieved the life we’d imagined.”
‘There’s a 50/50 chance of Down syndrome.’ I was floored. Those are the moments that mark you for life.’: Mom shares Down syndrome acceptance journey, ‘He was the missing piece to our family’
‘What the heck just happened?’ I looked 7 months pregnant. Our nurse said, ‘Your ovaries are the size of grapefruits!’: Endometriosis warrior candidly details infertility, IVF journey
“Our rock-solid marriage has been tested to its limits.”
‘Mom, I can’t keep being shocked into rhythm every week.’ His heart was running out of fight. It was devastating.’: Mom details son’s heart transplant journey, ‘We got our son back’
“I got a phone call. ‘Parker’s in early heart failure. The disease is attacking his heart.’ He was just days shy of his twelfth birthday. I went into the bathroom, sat on the floor, and cried my eyes out. We were losing him.”
‘Dear Santa, I want a kidney for my brother.’ My eyes filled with tears. Her letter to Santa meant everything to her.’: Woman details granddaughter’s Christmas wish, ‘I believe in miracles’
“At the store, Tegan spotted a man who looked like Santa. She reminded him she sent him a letter asking for a kidney for her little brother. ‘Thank you for making my wish come true.’ It appeared Santa was about to cry.”
‘I WILL find you again.’ My heart was turned upside down by a 3-year-old.’: Woman becomes life-long orphan advocate, ‘There are so many ways to be family’
“‘I know my odds aren’t great to find a family.’ The children were simply numbers. But he held out hope. We both did.”
‘Aunty Dana, are all angels white or can they be brown, too?’ I was ashamed. All the angels on display in my home were white.’: New mom reflects on Christmas traditions, ‘Angels come in all colors’
“I worried about how I’d pass down my family and cultural traditions. How could I make sure they saw themselves in the Christmas festivities? The next thing I knew, I had my first piece of the puzzle – a beautiful black angel.”
‘I feel like we’re meant to have more kids.’ I replied, ‘But you’re snipped!’ I started to ugly cry and I knew my heart was opened.’: Mom welcomes rainbow baby, ‘Our family wouldn’t be the same’
“We dropped my husband off at the doctor and BAM! Our ability to have more children was gone. I remember thinking, ‘It’s crazy such a massive, life-altering decision can carry out in only minutes.’ I mourned the loss of the kiddos we didn’t have but I had moved on… Or so I thought!”
‘You’re a match!’ It was life-changing. Now I look at the words ‘Donate Life’ and truly understand the meaning.’: Mom donates kidney to newborn son, ‘It’s the best thing I’ve ever done’
“Noah was unstable and constantly suffering through seizures. We didn’t realize until a few days later his kidneys had failed. They were shocked he made it.”
‘Each test was negative. ‘But I did everything right.’ I was so discouraged. My heart was aching for the intended parents.’: Woman details surrogacy journey, ‘It’s all worth it’
“I felt so overwhelmed, like I was going to mess something up, and I hadn’t even started yet. There’s a weight of carrying someone else’s child that’s much heavier than your own.”
‘I can’t do this on my own!’ He missed hearing our baby’s heartbeat. Our due date was coming and I was a nervous wreck.’: New mom details pandemic pregnancy, ‘Cherish every moment’
“My bump was finally starting to pop! I was on cloud nine. I had so many plans… and then the world was tipped upside down. I wanted to run and hide my baby from this horrible virus.”