“My face feels like I’m pressing it on a stove burner. The pain stops me in my tracks and I’m unable to talk. I was told to ‘power through.’ I decided to advocate for myself.”
‘It’s called the suicide disease.’ Pus gushed out of my surgical site. Doctors didn’t take me seriously.’: Trigeminal Neuralgia warrior details journey, ‘Helping others gives my suffering purpose’
Tommy Pilling, Husband In Longest-Living Down Syndrome Couple, Dies From Covid-19
His sister-in-law writes, “We are in shock and are heartbroken. Thank you Tommy for showing me what unconditional love was.”
‘I’m only looking for a friend.’ I told myself I wasn’t destined for dating or marriage. I let my disability dictate that.’: Man with muscular dystrophy shares love story, ‘They gave me a new life’
“I had an alert in my inbox. ‘Hi, I’m Jenny.’ I did a double-take. Talking to her was the easiest thing I’d ever done. Neither one of us was looking for love, so we were both surprised when it found us!”
’I’m going to play outside!’ I called for him but he didn’t answer. I saw him by a tree. Then I saw the rope.’: Mom loses son to deadly internet trend, ‘No child is immune to this’
“It resembles suicide, but it’s not. His bullies DARED him to do this the day before he died.”
‘Your chances of naturally conceiving are less than 1%.’ I’d spent half my life dreaming of being a mom. I was shattered.’: Couple share ‘miraculous’ parenthood journey, ‘Life is precious’
“We closed the door on having biological children. I woke up to ten missed calls from my husband. ‘I know how we’re going to grow our family!’ We’d just found our greatest blessing.”
‘Shayla, stop bothering me!’ Now, 7 years later, I’d give anything to hear her call to me. I long to hear my baby say, ‘Mommy.’: Autism mom shares daughter’s diagnosis, ‘We’re her voice’
“We knew it was coming. I thought I was prepared to hear it, to see it made official. I was not. ‘She has autism.’ I was in denial. How could I have done this to my baby?”
‘My cousin is pregnant and incarcerated.’ Could it be real? I told him, ‘This MIGHT be the answer to our prayers.’: Couple pens emotional adoption journey, ‘She WILL know where she came from’
“I took one look at her and said, ‘She’s perfect.’ We had to sit nervously and wait. It was the most nerve-wracking 24 hours of my life.”
‘If you had autism, you’d be a unicorn.’ My social life was thriving, but I was a mess on the inside. I hated not being myself.’: Woman shares autism diagnosis journey, ‘My differences are a gift’
“I was told I was special or unique. I was the center of attention, and not in a good way. From the clothes I wore to the things I said, everything was wrong. I couldn’t fit in with the ‘normal’ people.”
‘Oh god, did I just pee myself?!’ I watched the midwife’s face suddenly drop. ‘I am SO sorry, but your amniotic sac has broken.’ I was only 18 weeks pregnant.’: Mom births warrior 1-pound baby, ‘I’m holding a living, breathing miracle’
“The doctors gave me pitiful looks and left the room. I sat there, alone, stunned. Miscarry?! Was that even a term they used at 18 weeks pregnant?! My baby had a heartbeat. I put my hand on my stomach; I could feel little flutters in my stomach. No, I thought. I’m not miscarrying. Not today.”
‘I live in physical agony. The sea welcomed me into her icy embrace. The first touch of water began to lick my pain away.’: Chronic illness warrior finds pain relief, ‘The tools are within us’
“No reservations of nerves played on my mind. I tasted the salted air and strode into the ocean. You begin to realize nothing really mattered but your mind, your focus, your control. ‘Until next time, my love. I will be back.’”