“I received cruel messages like, ‘If I were you, I’d rather be dead.’ My health was a taboo topic. When I got my NJ tube, I realized hiding my illness was impossible.”
‘I lived a double life, high schooler by day and patient by night. I hid my illnesses out of pure embarrassment.’: Chronic illness warrior shares self-love journey, ‘Now I embrace my scars’
‘All my life, I heard, ‘Breast milk is the only way to go.’ I felt like a failure. What was wrong with my body?’: New mom shares breastfeeding journey, donates breast milk, ‘I am beyond grateful’
“I had no idea where to start, where to go, or who to ask for help. I didn’t know anyone who was pumping, let alone donating breast milk.”
‘My doctor said, ‘You’re just a tired mom.’ I was too weak to move from the couch. Breathing became a challenge. I knew he was wrong.’: Mom navigates life with chronic illnesses, ‘Be kind to yourself’
“I pushed my health to the back burner. Finally, I had to take a step back. ‘How can I care for those I love when I’m not caring for myself? I knew my doctor was wrong.”
‘I was so bloated people asked, ‘How far along are you?’ If only they knew I was slowly dying on the inside, never able to have another child.’: Chronic illness warrior shares journey, ‘I am FIERCE’
“My large intestine quit on me out of the blue. I fought through the pain until I was no longer able to hide it. If felt like my world was slowly caving in.”
‘The judge skimmed my letter. In less than 5 minutes, we were ushered out of the courtroom. I felt powerless.’: Foster mom advocates for child welfare, ‘They need people to fight for them’
“My knuckles were white as I gripped the steering wheel. I was fighting back tears. My 6-year-old foster child sat in the backseat, oblivious. The system was failing him and no one cared.”
‘As I laid eyes on her for the first time, they quickly pointed out everything ‘wrong’ with her.’: Mom ‘blindsided’ by daughter’s Down syndrome diagnosis, ‘I’m no longer afraid’
“Her beautiful, almond-shaped eyes, the way her tongue rested gently on her bottom lip, and her tiny pinky with the slightest curve. I was in shock.”
‘There’s NO WAY insurance will cover this. Order a self-test kit off Amazon.’ I BEGGED the doctor to refer me.’: Endometriosis warrior details chronic illness journey, ‘I know my body best’
“I left her office crying, but this time tears of joy. Someone FINALLY believed me. Someone finally was going to help me figure it all out. Someone was going to help me feel better.”
‘My screams woke up the entire sorority house. ‘My dad died 7 months ago. She can’t die too!’ At that point, the rest of my life began.’: Young woman shares grief journey, ‘My parents would be proud of me’
“I saw missed calls and a voicemail from my aunt. ‘You need to get home now. Be strong.’ I called my mom, but she didn’t answer. That’s when I got scared.”
‘He screamed, ‘You’ll NEVER be clean!’ One day you’re in high school swooning over a senior and 15 years later you’re being arrested.’: Young woman shares journey to recovery, ‘It’s SO worth it’
“I overdosed on a drug cocktail a 350-pound linebacker shouldn’t have survived.”
‘We watched his hair fall out all over his hospital pillow. We watched as he screamed in pain. Each time, he showed his strength.’: 5-year-old cancer warrior goes into remission, ‘This is a new beginning’
“January 30, 2021, our warrior rang his bell after 1045 days of fighting cancer. Surrounded by family and friends, some old and some new, we watched as Milo enjoyed HIS day.”