“For over a year, I had a headache that never went away. ‘You’re too young to be taking so many pills.’ I was in so much pain I wanted to die. I felt like a burden to those around me.”
‘Maybe I’m just weak.’ I carried a 1-liter bag with all my pills for the day. I felt so guilty for what happened to me.’: Woman battling invisible illnesses says, ‘It’s not who I am, it’s just part of me’
‘One day, I opened up her cookbook. Inside was an inscription. I cried tears I didn’t know I had.’: Woman honors late grandmother with tattoo, ‘I love you forever and always’
“Naming my child after my grandmother never seemed like enough. It never seemed like it was enough to pay tribute to the woman who meant more to me than I could ever express in words.”
‘I’ll just get a few to hold me over.’ That one trip turned into 4 years. I couldn’t believe that little pill had total control over my life.’: Woman overcomes addiction, ‘You’re not alone’
“On days I was running low on pills, I’d be so irritable and on edge. I wanted help so badly, but I was so ashamed. I’d go to his house to steal pills. How did I let this happen? Oh my God, I am a drug addict.”
‘I grabbed my stomach. ‘Call the doctor!’ The nurses whispered over my charts. I couldn’t wrap my mind around it.’: Mom births rainbow baby after stillbirth, ‘Find beauty through ashes’
“’Really? Haven’t I been through enough?’ I stared at him blankly. The flashing lights and the cold temperature of the metal board my body was put on led me to a profound peacefulness.”
‘It’s the next worse thing to dying.’ Covid didn’t kill me. It took my life.’: Covid ‘long hauler’ urges ‘please be part of the solution’
“How am I supposed to be the mom I pictured when I can’t even get out of bed? Most doctors don’t believe us or know how to help.”
Why I Let Only 1 Of My 4 Kids Open Their Christmas Present Early
“The others whined and whined. I honestly thought the complaining would never end…until it did.”
‘This can’t be happening. They can’t take our baby!’ We couldn’t just have ‘normal.’ Only 200 people in the WORLD have this.’: Special needs mom shares daughter’s journey, ‘Love is strong’
“I let myself live in the land of denial for quite a long time. I allowed myself to live under the ‘she’s a preemie’ excuse as we began to notice delays. Surely she’d catch up.”
‘Oh my gosh, there’s a HEARTBEAT! I’m a MOM!’ The doctor looked puzzled and NOT happy.’: Couple experiences infertility, NICU, ‘I’m enjoying life as a mom’
“I caught my breath. I asked the doctor, ‘Is that a heartbeat?’ He didn’t look happy. I couldn’t understand. He then answered ‘Yes, but I’m sorry.’ I was completely numb.”
‘If I get deployed, do you want to get married?’ I was married to the military. I was constantly lost, never sure what would happen next.’: Military spouse encourages ‘love your own dreams again’
“I was alone for 6 months. Nick was in the military and I wasn’t prepared. You love him, but you’ve both changed. ‘What is wrong with us?’ It hit me. I didn’t need to give up my own dreams to be a military spouse.”
‘Why not have your OWN kid first?’ He’s JUST as much ‘our own’ as any biological child. He crushes every ‘impossible’ goal.’: Family adopts son with autism, ‘It’s better than we dreamed’
“They told us, ‘He may never speak full sentences or want to leave the house.’ His smile lit up the room. We pushed him to be the BEST he could be.”