“All the puzzle pieces came together right before our eyes. ‘There’s no way we can experience any more loss.’ We received the most dreaded message… it didn’t feel real. I knew there were miracles to come.”
‘Can you adopt my baby?’ 6 weeks later, our world came crashing down. ‘How could this happen AGAIN?’: Couple battling infertility share foster care journey, ‘There’s purpose in the pain’
‘The nurse let out a huge gasp. ‘I’m sorry, we thought you were sleeping!’ I wasn’t supposed to hear. Heavily pregnant, all I could think was, ‘Is is true? Do I have it?’: Mom details battle with ovarian cancer, survivor’s guilt
“I woke up in a hospital room, my husband at my bedside and my dad across from me. All I remember saying was, ‘Is it true?’ Inside me was a tumor the size of a cantaloupe, and a baby the size of a plum.”
‘Do you tell the guy? Can you DATE?’ It came on SO fast. I’m preparing myself for the future, incurable or not.’: Woman diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, ‘It won’t stop me from living’
“I started tripping. People called me ‘clumsy.’ I thought it was normal because people trip over things, don’t they? It all happened unexpectedly. ‘I’m going blind. I’m really going blind.’ It came on SO fast.”
‘Everyone was staring. I’m quietly praying, ‘Please help us.’ Then I look over, and I’m FIGHTING back tears.’: Mom shares touching act of kindness with Walmart employee
“Ava screamed across the store. She was in distress…overstimulated by the lights and the many sounds. I was FRANTIC. I look over and Conner came over to hold her hand, while repeatedly telling us everything was going to be OK.”
‘Do my friends even love me anymore?’ She misses her old teachers, the blue door she once entered, and me as just her mommy.’: Mom details candid reality of homeschooling while raising newborn
“There are days I teach Chloe while rocking my screaming newborn in my arms, or days I nurse him in one arm while teaching Chloe with the other. But I will never get these days back.”
‘If I sent you home now, I’d be ashamed to call myself a nurse.’ She held my hand, and advocated for me.’: Chronic illness warrior inspired to become nurse after act of kindness
“I relied on nurses for almost everything. Without hesitation, they lifted my spirits and held my hand. They allowed me to trust the health care system again and reclaim my passion. I knew I wanted to be part of that change.”
‘How many kids do you want?’ I wasn’t your ‘typical maternal’ type. I convinced myself I wasn’t cut out for it.’: Mom of 2 admits ‘maternity can be born with your baby’
“As she was placed on my chest for the first time, I felt such purpose. Maternity can be born at the same time as your baby.”
‘Why did you keep having kids if you weren’t happy?’ I was the ‘bad guy’ for breaking up my family.’: Single mom of 4 navigates life after divorce, ‘Happiness comes first’
“From the outside looking in, we were the perfect family. ‘Maybe if we just take this one vacation, everything will magically change.’ I felt worthless and unloved. My boys were the only thing that made life worthwhile.”
‘I have two toddlers that need a place to stay.’ He was nonverbal, drug-exposed, and had a brain lesion. We were terrified.’: Military family adopts brothers from foster care, ‘Miracles happen every day’
“We decided to put our YES out there and let God take care of the rest. The social workers started bringing in medical equipment, trash bags full of belongings. It was magical and heartbreaking all at the same time.”
‘Thank you for being exactly what he needs. You can give him the BEST life.’ When we heard this, we knew. It was meant to be.’: Adoptive parents craft beautiful relationship with son’s birth mom, ‘We’re in awe of her’
“We were matched 11 times, each one coming to an end without an adoption. We were on verge of walking away. Then we received a call. ‘You’ve been chosen!’”