“For every family member blaming themselves, racking their brain of where exactly it went wrong, beating themselves up, crying themselves to sleep, and thinking it was something they did…it’s not your fault. And it’s too heavy to carry.”
‘My two sisters went off to college, I went to prison. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t matter how you were raised.’: Recovered addict reminds us ‘addiction doesn’t discriminate’
‘He’s going to leave you,’ it said. I cried and I shook. I wanted to be a mother for as long as I can remember.’: Woman with endometriosis keeps fighting
“I called Will, asking him to come over so we could discuss my appointment. I told him I was terrified I’d lose my left ovary as quickly as it had taken my right. I cried and I shook, and he held himself steady.”
‘I called my husband. ‘I have to tell you something about our boy.’ He wailed and cried like I’d never heard before.’: Mom recounts son’s leukemia journey, ‘I don’t take his life for granted’
“I watched them stick a needle into my baby’s chest, and tried to pretend it was fun and not scary. I slept weeks in the hospital, constantly checking if he was okay. He charmed all the doctors and nurses, his little bald head dancing.”
‘I took a big, deep breath. ‘So she was born yesterday?’ We were meant to meet her.’: Couple adopts baby born on late daughter’s birthday, ‘She gave me courage’
“Blake died one week shy of 11 months old in her daddy’s arms. ‘She is one day old.’ I told him she was born the day before, on Blakey’s birthday. ‘Wait, what? Are you serious? Well, let’s go get her!’ She seemed so tiny.”
‘I felt the right side of my face go numb. ‘I’m sorry, we found some lesions on your brain.’ At just 20 years old, I was in shock.’: Young woman with multiple sclerosis says ‘I have lots of life left to live’
“I awoke to use the restroom. I tried to get up using my right arm, but I couldn’t. Then I tried to stand, but I couldn’t. ‘Catherine, what’s wrong?!’ I couldn’t get any words out. I finally said, ‘I can’t move my right side,’ in between sobs.”
‘Oh God, they can’t lose another mom.’ I found a volleyball-sized growth. I was already their second adoption.’: Woman says adopted kids ‘loved me through’ cancer
“I started to feel ‘off.’ By March, I could hardly get out of bed. They had experienced the loss of not one, but two moms already. Instead of falling apart, they stepped up.”
‘I tipped over, slamming my head. ‘I can’t see anything!’ The doctor said, ‘Your life will be less fulfilling now.’: Multiple Sclerosis warrior recounts journey, support from husband
“She asked me to read the top line with the largest print. I told her, ‘I can’t see it.’ I could hardly mutter the words as tears filled my eyes and streamed down my face. My internal panic set in.”
‘I HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE.’ I was in fight or flight WHERE I least expected it. I felt so small.’: Woman shares details of anxiety attack, ‘I ENCOURAGE people to get help’
“I texted, ‘I have a headache.’ Which was true. But not the entire truth. All I can think about right now is this hole punched in my heart today by absolutely nobody.”
‘Your sister passed away.’ In a matter of years, I lost half my immediate family. This grief is not linear.’: Woman pens moving grief journey, ‘I live every day with authenticity’
“My cousin showed up at my house. Though her voice was calm when she arrived, I knew in that moment my sister was gone. Her death would be under investigation. She’d been struggling for months.”
‘Are you crazy? You wasted 12 inches just to donate to some random person? Why did you do this to your beautiful hair?’: Mom and daughter donate luscious locks to kids with cancer
“I asked her many times before the actual haircut, ‘Are you okay with this?’ ‘Yes mama! I am ready to make someone happy.’ She saw me donating and wanted to join in as well. ‘Short hair doesn’t suit you at all.’ It’s not everyone’s job to accept change.”