“I collapsed on my front lawn. I begged God to take me instead, to wake me up from this nightmare. How did my healthy, perfect boy fall asleep for a nap and not wake up? I sobbed over how he’d never have a first birthday. But I decided we’d celebrate anyway.”
“I felt like I did not deserve to have a life nor the career I do to help people if I, myself, am ‘crazy.'”
“Child waiting in hospital for 2.5 months, can’t find placement. Has no femur bones and is medically fragile. We made our decision, but what would our friends and family think of us?”
“I was scrolling through my phone, doing absolutely nothing. Nothing of value. Nothing worthy of taking my attention from him. And him asking that of me —it made me uncomfortable.”
“I just kept whispering, ‘Show me your face. Just show me your face. Please Dad, I just want to see your face.’”
“We didn’t have much time left with her, but our hope was to have her long enough to tell her she was going to be a big sister. It would have lit up her world. That happy news was never delivered.”
“I never wanted to take that ring off. I didn’t want to be a widow. Yet, as I was washing dishes, I heard it hit the sink as it slipped off my hand. I just knew. He was telling me it’s ok to move on.”
“Some parents comment on how tall their child has gotten. Or how their daughter’s baby pudge is finally gone. One thing I have learned is how time moves differently when you are raising a family.”
“He doesn’t want to leave mom, but he feels like he doesn’t belong there. He hates the feeling of losing his freedom. My heart aches for him.”
“If they only knew.”
