“I was crocheting, like how we spent most nights. It was my mom, who never called me this time of evening as she worked night shift and would normally still be sleeping.”
‘I hadn’t realized this Christmas was the last one we’d spend as a whole family. After dinner, my phone rang. Concerned, I answered, and my world was rocked once more.’
‘The restaurant was 20 yards away from the starting line of a gay pride event. It was the ‘Drag Race.’: Mom urges others not too judge to quickly
“As you can tell by the picture, this was not exactly a NASCAR event. No less than 6 families ushered their children back to their cars and found somewhere else to eat their dinner. I know those folks.”
‘Even if she has 1,000 friends commenting every single day how perfect she is, it means nothing if the man at home makes her feel worthless.’
“A woman who is built up at home never has to go searching for it on the internet.”
‘Before I had my son, I had a positive pregnancy test. But then I got my period. It was heavy and painful and not when it was due. I was so confused.’
“I told no one. I still to this day, until this moment, haven’t mentioned it to anyone. This is me being open about it.”
‘We held our breath, anticipating our baby’s heartbeat. We didn’t hear anything. My doctor said the little stinker was probably hiding and prepared me for an ultrasound.’
“She didn’t need to. I already knew.”
‘Hi Mom, I’m home. Wake me up for school at 9, ok? I love you.’ I looked right at him, ‘I love you, too. Get some sleep, it’s late.’: Mom loses 26-year-old son to heroin-laced joint, says she’ll ‘always carry him in her heart’
“He was very upset and put his hand on my shoulder. ‘Mom, I would never do that to you or dad. I love this family way too much. I love you, mom.’ I looked straight in his eyes and thanked him, and I truly believed him. I still do till this day. He was home, safe, planning for school the next day. When I went to wake him for school, I knew he was gone the moment I saw him.”
‘When I was 16, I scribbled, ‘I’m sorry, please don’t hate me. Goodbye,’ on a piece of paper. I said a prayer that ‘If I was supposed to stick around, send me a sign.’ Just then, my computer beeped with a message from a good friend.’
“I didn’t want to burden anyone with ‘ridiculous and frivolous drama.’ I knew hurting myself was wrong, and I was scared of getting in trouble. And the biggest reason I held it in: I was terrified of rejection.”
‘I think this is something viral.’ 3 days later, her dad carried her like a limp, broken doll into our office.’: Doctor shocked by patient with ‘rare polio-like’ disease, ‘Viruses are everywhere’
“She screamed in pain whenever her head was turned. Her neck was stiff, rigid. The ER doctor called me. I nearly spit out my drink. ‘What?!’ This was almost a myth. What in the world was it doing in my office—heck, in my city?”
‘She looked at me and said, ‘Mommy I heard you crying. Are you ok?’ ‘The baby is in heaven now.’: Family strives to overcome pregnancy loss
“We said our final goodbyes by attending a shared burial. Our baby, along with 30 or so others, were buried all together in a beautiful little white casket. At the end of the service, each family had a chance to spend a few moments with all the babies in the casket. My husband, the girls and I all walked hand-in-hand slowly up front.”
‘I had everything: 2 healthy boys, a brand new baby girl, a husband, a room full of baby gifts. I was unbelievably grateful. I was unbelievably satisfied. But I wasn’t happy.’
“’Maybe this is just what it’s like to have three kids,’ I thought. I cried alone. I pushed my friends away. I couldn’t connect with my kids.”