“I lived in 12 different homes from ages 12 to 18. I had few stable adults in my life. Scott became my track coach my sophomore year. I threw emotional fits. He casually said, ‘I think you can win state.’ Then he paused and took in a deep breath. ‘If you do what I say.’ His devotion to me was unwavering and father-like. Not just as my coach, but as a dad.”
“The elevator going up to labor and delivery was right outside the ER door. I’d see pregnant women walking through the waiting room. It was a constant reminder of where I wanted to be. My second week at work, I happened to see my twin sister in the hall. ‘I’m going to the delivery of twin girls today!’ Later, I was assigned too. I met the mom. ‘Guess what?! I have something to tell you!’”
“I started questioning religion in my adolescence. My parents didn’t think I knew what I REALLY felt. I was just a ‘hormonal teenager.’ Now, I’m a 35-year-old agnostic. I am unapologetically raising my daughter without religion. And boy, you’d be surprised how many people have a serious problem with that.”
“You’d be outraged! Imagine what that would do to that little girl’s confidence? Imagine the issues? You’d probably have something to say to the person spouting this drivel. And yet, how many times do you say it to yourself?”
“I told my husband over dinner while our kids were also trying to talk. Poor timing, but I hadn’t told anyone and just needed to get it off my chest. I took him by surprise. ‘I thought I was pregnant, but I’m not.’ My eyes were filling with tears. I hated how emotional I was getting. He was shocked. Relieved. Not as sad as I was.”
“WHAT!! How?? I had an alarm on my phone reminding me to take my pill every single day! She insisted I test anyway…sure enough, it was positive. ‘This isn’t a baby yet. You have options.’ Once I saw the baby on the ultrasound, I knew my only option was to give our child a chance at life. I knew God had a plan for me.”
“The day after my biopsy, I received a phone call. ‘Wow, the results came fast. Must be good news!’ The nurse put the doctor on. ‘Hi, Danielle. I want you to know we found cancer…’ Suddenly, all of the air was sucked out of my body. I called my sister. ‘Man, you cursed me. I have it.’ I could hear my mom in the background saying, ‘Are you EFFING kidding me?!’ We were battling this together.”
“She wasn’t acting like other 2-year-olds we knew. Everyone told me I was crazy, but there was something wrong. I told her I pulled over, but kept driving. ‘I think your daughter is having seizures. I think she has epilepsy.’ There was a long pause as I pulled over, no longer cocky and full of myself. ‘Excuse me?’ I replied. I don’t remember the rest of the conversation.”
“I am grateful he left his clothes on the floor that day. I saw him in a whole new light. It just took me a while to see it.”
“When I moved two years ago, I didn’t know a soul. After 9 years in Chicago raising babies, I was terrified to start all over again, leaving behind an amazing mom tribe I’d formed. Starting from scratch in a new city is like dating. But during my first year in San Antonio, I met Amy at a PTA meeting.”
