“I’d be on our couch, totally frozen, unable to think or move. ‘This is a step too far.’ If I was emotionally unhealthy, I wasn’t going to show up as the mom I wanted to be.”
‘I need to leave. I have to get out of here.’ I felt clammy, trapped. Anxiety was taking precious memories away from me.’: New mom shares journey with postpartum anxiety, ‘There IS a way out’
‘Just accept things and move on.’ Was I going mad? Everything came back ‘normal.’: Woman details Type 1 diabetes diagnosis, ‘I can recognize myself again’
“I’ve always been aware of the fragility of life, but it’s human nature to think, ‘It won’t happen to me.’ My life suddenly became this fragile flower in my hands.”
‘He had every opportunity to leave. I went from perfectly healthy to crippled, mentally and physically. Instead, he got down on one knee. ‘Will you marry me?’: Woman thanks husband for unconditional love during Chronic Lyme Disease battle
“I don’t remember the rehearsal dinner. I took a nap between the ceremony and reception. After a month of treatment, I rallied to walk down the aisle. Our love was stronger than the forces pulling me down.”
‘I’m getting a mummy and daddy?’ I begged God to let me spend his birthday with him. I’d missed seven already.’: Mom shares international adoption journey, ‘He’s ours, forever and always’
“The door swung open. ‘Your husband’s been trying to reach you. You got the CALL!’ I was shaking. We were going to be parents. It was finally happening.”
‘When I figured I’d get cancer at some point, I meant after age 50. I worried the best years of my life had passed.’: Breast cancer warrior urges other survivors ‘life is still a beautiful adventure’
“I grieved my diagnosis, the loss of my breasts. I cried when I shaved my head. I worried as I read the statistics. I thought I’d already had my share of adventure in life.”
‘I’d had 3 babies before, but this was the first time someone asked if I WANTED one of them.’: Mom welcomes baby with Down syndrome, ‘Loving her is the easiest thing I’ve ever done’
“I worried about what life would be like for her, how our family might change, and the struggles she might face. But I knew, despite all of that, she was worthy.”
‘I told my future husband, ‘I’m a package deal.’ I was DETERMINED to adopt this little girl who’d stolen my heart years ago.’: Woman adopts after meeting her 6 years prior, ‘I am forever blessed’
“I sat at the bedside of this little girl for hours, counting the cockroaches which ran across the floor. Reluctantly, I picked her up. Soon, she was asleep in my arms. My heart changed.”
‘Will I love him as much as I love my daughter?’ He was placed onto my chest. Suddenly, there was NO fear.’: Mom to son with Down syndrome starts nonprofit, ‘There is joy after grief’
“I’d say to him, ‘I love you so much it HURTS.’ I couldn’t believe there was a time I questioned if this love between the two of us would be possible. I wanted to provide hope for other families.”
‘You’re so kind for hanging out with them!’ These were my friends. I wasn’t doing anything special.’: Teen gives back to Down syndrome community, ‘I want to make the world a better place’
“Each year, it seemed I had a friend who looked or acted just a little bit differently than me. I wanted to make sure these children were equally celebrated and welcomed.”
6 Ways To Support Your Loved One After Miscarriage
“One in four pregnancies end in loss. It is time to open the dialogue.”