“Holding down my screaming daughter for the third time that night felt like torture. Little did I know, that night was just the beginning. She kept looking at me confused, wondering why I was allowing someone to do this to her.”
‘The doctor said, ‘It’s just a matter of time.’ She started reaching for things in the air. I thought it was the end.’: Mom of five-time leukemia warrior says ‘Ali’s light has remained a constant through it all’
‘Someone drove by and shouted, ‘Get back in your house. You’re the reason people are dying!’ For sitting on my lawn. Alone.’: Wife of nurse says ‘have grace, you don’t know what others are going through’
“I haven’t kissed or hugged my husband who works on the frontlines as a nurse in weeks. Every night, I must reassure my 5-year-old that no, daddy’s not going to die. But when the lights go out, I worry about the same thing. There I was, instantly sobbing because someone decided to lash out on me for breathing air.”
‘Mommy?’ she whispered. ‘Why wasn’t Daddy wearing his superhero mask?’ My heart fell into my stomach. I knew where this was leading.’: Mom says ‘our babies never had to question our superpowers until now’
“‘I love you, Daddy!’ she said. ‘I love you, too, Baby Girl!’ Then she said, ‘Don’t get coronavirus, Daddy!’ He paused. My heart fell into my stomach.”
‘The toddler who threw an epic tantrum? He’s bored right now, and he’s picking up on everyone else’s emotions.’: Woman urges ‘love harder, we’re all in this together’
“The teenager who’s frustrated and full of attitude? She’s lonely and misses her friends. Your spouse who’s been short tempered? He’s carrying worries he’s too afraid to communicate. The friend who forgot to call back? She’s overwhelmed and just doing the best she can to get by right now.”
‘Today my husband to let a few of his best guys go. There’s only so much distance you can put between yourself and another person in his line of work.’: Couple says pandemic ‘has shown us how much we take for granted’
“My husband is considered essential and is still able to work. Everyone at his job is basically walking on eggshells. It’s hard not to worry about him being exposed and bringing the virus home to us. There’s only so much distance you can put between yourself and another person in his line of work.”
‘That could be us,’ I whisper. This time it was a young family guy. I look at him and see my husband, the father of my kids staring back at me.’: Woman with anxiety during pandemic says ‘today I’m making the choice to focus on what I can control’
“Scrolling through my feed, there’s another story. Phrases like ‘young’ and ‘picture of health’ are preceded by a date of death. My stomach drops to remind me that this photo was taken ‘just days before.’ I look at him and I see my husband, and the father of my children staring back at me.”
‘I drove by my grandchildren’s house to drop off something they love on their front porch. I knocked on the door, and backed away.’: Woman shares plea for kindness during pandemic, ‘Love, not anger, makes the world a better place’
“Has anyone else noticed people are angry? Get back to work. Stay home. Wear a mask. Don’t wear a mask. Stay inside. Get out and breathe some fresh air. Don’t post happy photos, people are suffering. Maybe you want to post what you think without fear of your Facebook ‘friends’ blasting you.”
‘My little sister came into my room bawling her eyes out. ‘Something is wrong in Mommy’s room. I heard screaming, a thud, and then nothing.’: Son reflects on mother’s domestic abuse ordeal, ‘No matter what demons you’re battling, you can overcome’
“Jay was a youth minister who had a church in my hometown. Everyone loved him. The only thing I heard was, ‘Don’t ever accuse me of anything ever again.’ I called the cops and grabbed my baseball bat. My shirt was soaked with my sweat and blood.”
‘The invite came three months before the actual wedding date. I waited and waited, but my father never responded.’: Woman says ‘those who love you will show up, you won’t even have to ask’
“I waited and waited, but nothing. Simply because my mom’s boyfriend was going to be there. He didn’t respond to my text, so I called. No answer. The man who my mom would marry a year later, not only showed up, but he danced with me. That is a real dad. Someone who shows up.”
‘We’ll call tomorrow, Daddy.’ He tested positive. She cries big heavy tears for her daddy she hasn’t seen in a month.’: Mom takes full custody of kids while officer dad battles coronavirus at work
“We are divorced but have 50/50 custody. He’s an essential worker in our state prison that has the most cases of COVID-19. And, they’re all in his unit. Last week, he tested positive. 7 days later he was ‘released’ and sent back to work. I see the pain in his eyes every time we go to hang up.”