“I’ve seen generosity like never before. People buying supplies for those most vulnerable. We have had more family meals together in one day than in the last month. If we do it right, the connecting can be more powerful than the distancing.”
‘If we do it right, the connecting can be more powerful than the distancing.’: Mom says ‘its a choice to focus on the parts of this we won’t get back when things go back to normal’
‘LET’S DO THIS! Let’s give Anthony a dog!’ His trauma will not disappear, but a new friend can interrupt his pain and replace it with love.’: Unlikely strangers come together to surprise adoptive boy with ‘furry friend’
“He was abandoned by his adoptive parents at 11, with no explanation. His trauma will not disappear just because he has love, a father, stability, and a family. Memories like that can’t be erased. I realized the missing piece to our family, and for Anthony, was a companion. A ‘furry’ one.”
‘She called me in hysterics. ‘Mom, we have to do something. We can’t let it suffer.’: After witnessing wounded deer, mom and daughter realize ‘how truly fragile and beautiful life is’
“There we were, crumpled on the side of the highway, weeping over a dying deer. She wanted so desperately to help ease the animal’s suffering as it struggled to breathe. ‘Oh, Mom,’ my daughter whispered. We prayed her suffering would not linger for long.”
‘No cuddles today,’ I was told 3 days in a row. I was nothing but a milk machine. It was torture.’: Woman gives birth to twin preemies, ‘I was humbled by our time in the NICU’
“I watched her lips turn blue again. ‘Breathe baby girl. Please.’ We were force-feeding them to keep them alive. They poked Hazel over and over, trying to find a vein, finally landing on one in her head. I was horrified. ‘How in the world are we all going to survive this?’”
‘We’d been invited to be babysitters for our first grandchild. ‘Mom I love you, but please reconsider moving the trip.’: Disappointed grandma cancels trip to visit family due to COVID-19
“‘Mom, you’re missing the point. Neither of you should be traveling. What if I already have it?'”
‘I read somewhere a baby boom is expected. A baby boom? How are y’all having sex with all of these kids around all day?’: Mom shares candid reality of first days of coronavirus pandemic
“My teenagers are having a hard time understanding this is not ‘vacation’ time. I am unprepared and scared to be a home-school mom. I tried to take a shower and my home went into utter chaos complete with instant conspiracy theories on my where-a-bouts. No one wanted their routines thrown out the window.”
‘She didn’t want to talk about it or deal with it. Mix teen hormones in and you have a recipe for disaster.’: Widow celebrates daughter’s strength after husband’s passing, gets wink from heaven
“He wasn’t just her dad. That man was her best friend. He would have moved mountains for her. He did gymnastics with her. He let her put his very short hair in ponytails. He baked cupcakes with her, every Sunday night. And then one summer night, he died holding her hand. She woke up, crawled across the floor, pulled herself up to stand on shaky legs, and decided enough was enough.”
‘I found a handwritten note in our mailbox that said, ‘Please tell me anything you need, and I will pick it up for you.’ I heaved a sigh of relief.’: Woman says ‘the angels among us reassured me the world is still a good place to be’
“I was trying to stock up on supplies because my husband and I fit many of the categories for this virus to be life-threatening: over 65–check, diabetes—check, lung issues—check, immune compromised—check. Our doctor told us, ‘You need to prepare to be home for 2 months.’ In the midst of all the anxieties and panic shopping, I learned a great deal about kindness.”
‘If you look at the back of my car right now it looks like I’m overly prepared, but this stuff isn’t for me.’: Woman starts supply drive for elderly during coronavirus outbreak, ‘We can’t all do everything, but each of us can do something’
“When I saw images of our older folks struggling at grocery stores and meeting empty shelves, my heart absolutely broke. Some don’t have the technology to do their shopping online. Some can’t maneuver their walkers or motorized scooters through the crowds. Many don’t have the money to stock up on items. These are the people we are supposed to be protecting, and they’re falling through the cracks. I knew I had to do something.”
‘I watched him bury his head in his hands and sob. ‘I’m not going anywhere, I need you. The kids need us.’ He grabbed my face. ‘We are going to make it.’: After losing daughter to flu woman says ‘I only thought I loved him before’
“I have heard that tragic events like this can break up a marriage. I was terrified that not only was I going to have to continue living this life without my daughter, but I was going to lose my best friend and the only person who could comfort me. He grabbed my face and whispered in my ear, ‘I’m not going anywhere.’ I only thought I loved him before.”