“We didn’t know what real heartbreak was until we were forced to watch our baby battle childhood cancer. Even though we walk around the house with a smile, being brave for each other, our hearts are smashed into tiny pieces. When you try to picture the future, it takes your breath away, because you can’t picture life without them.”
“I sat my two children down and we had a conversation about foster care. I told them, ‘It will be hard to love on a baby and then have to say goodbye.’ They were both in.”
“I feel guilty I am the one who gets to see a baby take her first steps, see a little boy lose a tooth and get excited over the Tooth Fairy in the morning, or see a kid score in their football game. I wish it were different for these kids, but I’m prepared to be there for them as long as they need me.”
“Give those sweet babies all the kisses and hugs, tell them you love them. That even on the hard days you wouldn’t trade them for anything. Because some of us only dream of doing so.”
“Our Doctor looked at us and said, ‘I WILL have you pregnant.’ We entered the dark world of empty bank accounts, bruised and botched bodies, and a home with stained walls from our screams. We couldn’t give up.”
“She had been left in a bush in the freezing cold and was miraculously found. This little girl that had been unprotected and forgotten—was being held safely in my arms. ‘Don’t become a foster mom as a single woman. It’s a death sentence. You’ll be single forever.’ I had a decision to make.”
“He was sitting with my uncle. ‘We can give her a break and take care of him.’ Our home was chaos but in the best way.”
“Our oldest is autistic and goodbyes are so difficult for him. He hugged him tightly and with one final kiss, he was gone. Months later, I said, ‘I think it’s time you come for a visit.’ We kept it a secret. There were tears, so many beautiful tears.”
“In a time where so many (especially young children) are having an incredibly hard time with this ‘new way’ of life and so many restrictions, this friendship with Arthur has meant THE WORLD to Hudson…and to us.”
“’We need to land. We have to land the plane.’ I jumped out of my seat and ran down the aisle to the flight attendant who was passing out snacks. ‘Sir! Sir! Please!’ One man stepped forward quietly and said, ‘I’m a neurologist, I don’t know if I can be of any help.’”
