“We were told, ‘You’re crazy.’ In an instant, I knew we had to pursue him. I didn’t know joy and sorrow could coexist.”
‘He’s been born, and YOU were chosen!’ Only 4 pounds, I was scared to even TOUCH him.’: Couple adopt baby with Down syndrome after scare, ‘We were meant for this’
‘Come OOOONNN!’ I used to wonder why my mom was always the last one out of the house. Then I became a mom.’: Mom says ‘we take care of absolutely everyone and everything before ourselves’
“For the longest time, I didn’t get it. She had started at the same time we did! Then I became a mom.”
‘I only had sex once!’ I became a missing teen mom. Posters of me were up all over town.’: Woman escapes abusive relationship, graduates college as first-generation LGBT student
“‘Don’t even THINK about being with a woman!’ I kept my only ‘girl on girl’ relationship hush-hush. And then I met him. He convinced me to run away from home.”
‘He didn’t try to replace her dad. He came along, just when we thought we’d never feel joy again, and filled the unspeakable void in our hearts.’: Widow pens appreciation letter to bonus dad
“She didn’t have a dad anymore. A guy to love her no matter what, intimidate boys, or agree with her when mom was acting crazy. And then, just when I thought she was never going to feel joy again, along he came.”
‘I can only do so much.’ It’s just the two of us. One day, I won’t be here. Who will tell her I’m gone? Who will make sure she’s safe?’: Autism mom shares daughter’s journey, ‘I’ll let her lead the way’
“We were in survival mode. She kicked me in the face and dragged me across the kitchen floor. I got her in the car and drove straight to the hospital. I dropped to my knees, begging for someone to help my daughter.”
‘Oh! Is this your sister?’ We have learned to answer, ‘We are friends’ because it’s true!’: Mom navigates co-parenting with bonus parents during holidays, ‘We work together for a common goal’
“Once Avery was born, I stayed with Zach and his girlfriend (now wife) Bailee. I still remember going to an appointment and Zach having to work, so Bailee came to the appointment with me. As we checked in the nurse said, ‘Oh! Is this your sister?'”
‘If you’re not excited, you’ll be a bad mom.’ Who decided this? What does THEIR life look like behind closed doors?’: Pregnant woman grieves ‘death’ of old self, urges ‘it’s okay to not be excited’
“I will never be the woman I was before the morning of July 4th, when we tried translating a Spanish pregnancy test in the morning light along the Mexican coast.”
‘I’m in a different boat. We’re terrified of losing our children. I’d never wish for any parent to be where I’ve been.’: Special needs mom begs ‘do your part, stay safe for us’
“For years, we’ve been sanitizing and wearing masks. Sitting on hospital bathroom floors, begging for our child to live. Seeing our child intubated and whispering, ‘Please be okay.’ It feels like you’re watching us sink.”
‘The doctor leaned in. ‘Your body is not damaged. Stop the surgeries, stop the fertility treatments. Something is missing, and I’m going to find out what it is.’: Woman pregnant with rainbow baby thanks doctor’s kindness, ‘She spoke life into me’
“You have a 2% chance of ever conceiving a child.’ I didn’t know when or how it would happen, but I felt it deep within my soul.”
‘I did something wrong.’ He turned blue. I dropped to my knees. ‘Sorry, we can’t help you.’: Baby born with rare genetic condition, ‘We won’t give up if he doesn’t’
“‘Prepare yourself. I don’t know what’s happening with your baby.’ His size confused them. The moment we waited for finally arrived.”