“I asked daily, ‘Why me?’ I was so frustrated and angry at the world. I didn’t understand why I had to endure this much pain and trauma.”
‘My first full sentence was, ‘My back hurts.’ I can’t imagine how heartbreaking that was for my mom.’: Chronic illness warrior says ‘I am brave and strong’
‘In the darkened kitchen, I ate pints of ice cream, boxes of candy, and whole packages of cookies.’: Woman battling mental illness says ‘I overshare so our kids know they can ask for help’
“I’d crawl into bed, face swollen and knuckles bloody. By December of Freshman year of college, I weighed 90 pounds and fit into size 12 kids jeans. I started taking laxatives to purge – some nights 30-40 at a time.”
‘You need to get her to the hospital, but it might not be enough.’ I didn’t know how close to death she was.’: Mom says adoptive daughter is ‘walking miracle’
“She was almost a year old and weighed 9 and a half pounds. She didn’t have much strength left. I knew I’d move the world to save her tiny life.”
‘I received a call. ‘We have a 14-year-old boy. He really needs to leave the home he is in.’: Single mom becomes foster parent to help other families battling addiction, adopts teenager
“After a 3-day binge, I told my husband he needed to choose. He could go to rehab and get sober, or he needed to leave. He chose to leave. I was a single mom with two heartbroken little boys. I knew I wanted to help other kids out there going through the same thing.”
‘I wanted you to graduate without worrying about me.’ It had spread to his brain.’: Woman describes grief of losing both parents to cancer
“After finals, my family came to visit me on campus. My dad was very somber. ‘I didn’t want to hide this from you.’ I can’t describe the pain.”
‘She’ll never walk or talk. Her future is unknown.’: Mother details journey with daughter’s rare chromosomal disorders
“The thing I hate hearing the most is, ‘You just need to wait and see.’ She’s so rare the doctors don’t know the answers to our questions.”
‘Her 9-pound body flopped back lifelessly. She died in my arms at 2 weeks old.’: Mom shares daughter’s journey with rare genetic disorder
“My husband grabbed her from my hands, tossed her over his knees, and started CPR. ‘Please hurry,’ I begged dispatch. I will NEVER forget that night.”
‘Your dad’s been waiting for you.’ I cried like a child. I should’ve been there.’: Man finds ways to assist aging parents after medical emergency
“All he could say was ‘Son.’ I apologized for my shortcomings. Mom soothed me while dad weakly patted my head like I was a little boy. I realized how much they need me.”
‘Days before his 24th birthday, we received messages. ‘Jake has not shown up for work or class.’ His roommates hadn’t seen him.’: Woman navigates grief after losing brother to suicide, sister and nieces to car accident
“Exactly 2 months later, my sister and two beautiful nieces were killed in a car accident. I heard phrases like ‘everything happens for a reason’ more times than I can count. I was told my sadness was a result of my lack of gratitude and my focusing on the negative. I was encouraged to move on, to forget, to focus on the positive and live in gratitude with love.”
‘I called her, sobbing. Her response? ‘I’m driving you. Do you prefer me beside you or in the waiting room? What can I bring over in the meantime?’: Mom shares true meaning behind ‘it takes a village’
“Without hesitating or thinking, she washes bottles. Folds a blanket. Holds James so I can use the bathroom. Her love is instinctual.”