“If my story was a movie, dramatic music would play while I’d look meaningfully into the camera and gush about how becoming chronically ill changed my life for the better. I’d clasp my hands together and preach about how my condition helped me to discover more about myself as a person, and then waltz off into the sunset with a handsome prince and some kind of small fortune due to a dramatic plot twist.”
“I agreed to call a local fitness chain and schedule myself a guest class. Were you expecting something more daunting? If so, you must not understand how terrifying certain social situations can be for some people.”
“Those little fingers will grip a steering wheel, wave goodbye and drive off to somewhere new. Those little fingers will walk down the aisle and say ‘I do,’ falling in love with someone new.”
“My strength was rising. Not only did I feel like Superwoman after all of those injections, meds, blood draws and doctor visits, but I found strength emotionally, as well. I learned how to be brave.”
“That morning, instead of being awoken by my alarm, I was awoken by my mother’s voice on the phone. ‘He passed out, and we can’t get him up. His fever is 105 and he’s in and out of consciousness.’”
“We had told my son he could wear pajamas to the ceremony, but that’s not the only reason he was so relaxed. In that moment, I knew for a fact my husband and I had found each other not because we were soul mates… but because he was right for my KIDS.”
“I immediately began CPR. He still had a pulse and I was determined. I was so, so in love with this little man. The entire ambulance ride was a blur. I sat there, watching them work on my 4-month-old, tiny son. ‘Not my beautiful baby!’ We were such good parents. How could this happen to us? We finally left the hospital having to tell my other son the hardest conversation I’ve ever had. It was the worst nightmare ever.”
“On my way to work, it became personal. The folks who charge the scooters at night placed them out in the morning—effectively blocking anyone from using the sidewalk. While others might be able to walk around the scooters, I didn’t have that choice.”
“When I left the library, I had 86 messages. All from my amazing, perfect boyfriend. The charming guy who accused me of cheating. As I left, I could feel someone watching me.”
“My contractions stopped, and my blood pressure bottomed out. I remember hearing my husband scream my name as I saw the world fade to black.”
