“My 31st birthday came. I kept all the receipts so I could return the gifts and give everyone their money back. No one knew this, but I was going to die in 4 days. I was prepared. I was the calmest I’d felt in years.”
‘I knew I was going to die. That night, my phone rang. ‘You’re not alone.’ I didn’t even know him, but he saved my life.’: Paramedic shares journey with addiction, ‘You are HUMAN and SO worthy’
‘All babies are different,’ he assured us. I was a new mom. I didn’t have any basis for comparison. With just a few words, my heart shattered.’: Mom shares son’s autism diagnosis, ‘I follow his lead’
“It hit us like a ton of bricks. Suddenly, everything I envisioned for my child’s life went out the window. Going through life being different from everyone else seemed impossible.”
‘Did it work?’ I didn’t say anything. I just put my head down, knowing our dream was over.’: Couple battling infertility pursue embryo adoption, ‘We’re so grateful for this journey’
“We sat in the doctor’s office on Valentine’s Day. ’The surgery wasn’t successful. There’s a .02% chance for genetic children.’ I was desperate at this point. I even contacted the local animal shelter to see if they had any kittens. I was spiraling.”
‘I cried in the nursery closet, clenching his wubby so hard my palms bled. We aren’t the same people now.’: Couple battling infertility urge ‘people who choose to walk away are just as worthy’
“What’s the point of having a child if you lose your own identity? I still had so much to offer in my life, but technically ‘nothing’ to show for it. I permitted myself to be me.”
‘I thought you were cute until I found out about your hand.’ This CRUSHED me. I thought I was unlovable.’: Woman with limb difference urges, ‘Be kind to others’
“I was known as ‘Chelsea with one finger.’ A little girl started screaming like she’d seen a monster. She pointed straight at my hand and screamed as if it were a feral animal coming at her.”
‘I don’t see a baby.’ The screen didn’t look right. There was just a blur and it was fuzzy. My whole body became hot.’: Woman gives birth to miracle baby, ‘I’m forever grateful’
“I was bloated from the chemotherapy and chunks of my hair were falling out. I was ill and exhausted. As defeated as I felt, I wasn’t ready to give up hope for our happy ending.”
‘He is SO loved already.’ No matter what, we were having this baby. The news did not change anything.’: Mom has baby with CHARGE Syndrome, ‘I find such joy in our life’
“While I sometimes long to feel the naivety I felt before that day, I know I am exactly the person I am meant to be right now. I’ve gained confidence and a voice I didn’t know I had. I will ALWAYS fight for him.”
‘We’d never even taken care of a baby before. ‘By the way, they’re nonverbal.’ Our whole life changed in an instant.’: Woman shares foster parent journey, ‘I’ve loved every single one like my own’
“For the next 3 years, I was their mom and they were my kids. They were a part of our family. All of our hopes and dreams unraveled with a single court hearing.”
‘The doctor called. ‘There’s been an accident.’ We begged them to hear us. It seemed like they was giving up.’: Couple loses miracle baby to hospital error, ‘I dream of her, and know she’s ok’
“‘They saw a leak when they changed her feeding tube. ‘It should heal on its own.’ We BEGGED them to listen.”
‘I can’t do this. I’m a terrible person.’ Something inside me broke. When I looked in the mirror, I saw an ugly monster.’: Woman shares mental health journey, ‘It’s okay to ask for help’
“My partner made me a cup of tea and left me on the sofa. When he came back 3 hours later, I was in the same place with a cold cup of tea in my hand. I hadn’t moved. ‘What’s wrong with me?’ I broke down.”