“If it wasn’t for my mental illness, I might still be in a loveless marriage, stuck working on the same old nursing unit, without any aspirations of becoming a best-selling author one day.”
‘I was unable to rest or sleep. I didn’t realize how sick I was until I could no longer take care of myself.’: Woman with acute mania, bipolar urges, ‘You are so much more than your diagnosis’
‘We can’t see why you can’t have children.’ I felt like there was something wrong with me.’: Mom struggling with infertility shares emotional journey to adopt
“I could have fallen into a puddle on the floor, but that’s not what happened. In the midst of tragedy, these words kept pressing on my heart: ‘GOD ISN’T FINISHED.’”
‘Your average couple, we started trying to conceive. Here we are, three years later, with no children.’: Woman battling unexplained infertility thanks support group, ‘We aren’t meant to go through trials alone’
“All my friends getting pregnant, I started to feel the weight of bitterness set in. It was then I reached out to a support group. This is not a community women want to be a part of, but it is one that has each other’s back. It’s a sisterhood.”
To The Girl Who Might Have To Wait, Know You Are Worthy Despite The Path You Find Yourself On
“I know you never pictured starting your family this way. You figured you’d have the surprise of those 2 pink lines and not the possibility of enduring so much for them.”
‘The male gynecologist told me to ‘grin and bear it.’ I knew my symptoms were real, but no one believed me.’: Woman with severe perimenopause finds relief after 9 years of suffering
“I was embarrassed to go out in public. I felt like I was suffering in silence—were there other women going through this? Would I ever find relief? Would I ever feel like myself again? I could have just accepted my new normal. I could have stopped advocating for myself, especially as my parents’ health declined and my marriage ended. But I didn’t give up.”
‘I noticed your scar. How long has it been?’ I was surprised. Then she asked to hug me.’: Cancer survivor touched by stranger’s act of kindness
“Unless it happens to you or someone you know, you never notice. She inspired me to show gratitude for where I am now.”
‘Every time I gave birth, I awoke the dormant beasts inside me.’: Mom of 3 shares journey to Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Lupus diagnoses
“I started wearing sunglasses indoors. My hair was falling out in chunks, my gums bleeding. Sounds hurt. The very smell of air made me sick. I was a shell of myself, withering away, barely hanging on. But then I thought of my little girl. She was so small, not even talking yet. How would she remember me? Who would teach her to do her hair? I had to stop planning my goodbyes, and start fighting.”
5 Important Tips For Healing After Divorce
“True healing doesn’t come easy.”
‘Your breast milk is like skim milk.’ I felt alone and lost, like something was wrong with me.’: Mom shares stresses of breastfeeding journey
“I didn’t buy any bottles or read how to use my pump. I cried in agony and shame. I sacrificed my freedom, time, energy, sleep, and breasts for only a few ounces.”
My Dad Was Diagnosed With Cancer, So We Staged A Fake Wedding So He Can Walk Me Down The Aisle
“We stood in a circle, praying for more time. ‘This is just a practice run for the real wedding,’ I said, but we both knew it wasn’t true. As we danced, I thanked God for the gray-headed, goofy, kindhearted father I got to love for 23 years. I wanted to stay in that moment forever. No sadness or fear in the way of how much we loved each other.”