“I’ve always been aware of the fragility of life, but it’s human nature to think, ‘It won’t happen to me.’ My life suddenly became this fragile flower in my hands.”
‘Just accept things and move on.’ Was I going mad? Everything came back ‘normal.’: Woman details Type 1 diabetes diagnosis, ‘I can recognize myself again’
‘He had every opportunity to leave. I went from perfectly healthy to crippled, mentally and physically. Instead, he got down on one knee. ‘Will you marry me?’: Woman thanks husband for unconditional love during Chronic Lyme Disease battle
“I don’t remember the rehearsal dinner. I took a nap between the ceremony and reception. After a month of treatment, I rallied to walk down the aisle. Our love was stronger than the forces pulling me down.”
‘I’m getting a mummy and daddy?’ I begged God to let me spend his birthday with him. I’d missed seven already.’: Mom shares international adoption journey, ‘He’s ours, forever and always’
“The door swung open. ‘Your husband’s been trying to reach you. You got the CALL!’ I was shaking. We were going to be parents. It was finally happening.”
‘When I figured I’d get cancer at some point, I meant after age 50. I worried the best years of my life had passed.’: Breast cancer warrior urges other survivors ‘life is still a beautiful adventure’
“I grieved my diagnosis, the loss of my breasts. I cried when I shaved my head. I worried as I read the statistics. I thought I’d already had my share of adventure in life.”
‘I’d had 3 babies before, but this was the first time someone asked if I WANTED one of them.’: Mom welcomes baby with Down syndrome, ‘Loving her is the easiest thing I’ve ever done’
“I worried about what life would be like for her, how our family might change, and the struggles she might face. But I knew, despite all of that, she was worthy.”
‘His entire world was falling apart. Carter turned to him, ‘I’m so glad you’re back. I missed you so much!’ We knew he was right where he was supposed to be.’: Couple adopts son from foster care
“The moment he came into our lives, he and Carter just clicked. We loved him like he was ours. We gave him one last hug before he left. But that’s not where his story ends.”
‘I told my future husband, ‘I’m a package deal.’ I was DETERMINED to adopt this little girl who’d stolen my heart years ago.’: Woman adopts after meeting her 6 years prior, ‘I am forever blessed’
“I sat at the bedside of this little girl for hours, counting the cockroaches which ran across the floor. Reluctantly, I picked her up. Soon, she was asleep in my arms. My heart changed.”
We Need To End The Toxic Milestone Mentality— Here’s Why
“When you’re 35 and have never been married and don’t have kids, you have a lot to explain to society.”
I Miscarried During Lockdown — Then, Something Amazing Happened
“Unable to hug, hold, or be held by loved ones in a time of extreme grief, I decided to share my story with the public. Within hours, I received thousands of messages. What I thought was an isolating experience had gone viral.”
‘Will I love him as much as I love my daughter?’ He was placed onto my chest. Suddenly, there was NO fear.’: Mom to son with Down syndrome starts nonprofit, ‘There is joy after grief’
“I’d say to him, ‘I love you so much it HURTS.’ I couldn’t believe there was a time I questioned if this love between the two of us would be possible. I wanted to provide hope for other families.”
‘You’re so kind for hanging out with them!’ These were my friends. I wasn’t doing anything special.’: Teen gives back to Down syndrome community, ‘I want to make the world a better place’
“Each year, it seemed I had a friend who looked or acted just a little bit differently than me. I wanted to make sure these children were equally celebrated and welcomed.”
‘I believe I’m the woman you’re looking for.’ We’d reached out to EVERYONE in New York with her name.’: Adoptee finds biological family after 16 years
“A young woman opened the door and met me at the top of the staircase. I KNEW it was her. She hugged me, squeezing as if she never wanted to let go.”
6 Ways To Support Your Loved One After Miscarriage
“One in four pregnancies end in loss. It is time to open the dialogue.”
‘I can’t hear youuuu, I’m deaf!’ Kids mocked me. I started to realize the world wasn’t so kind.’: Deaf woman advocates for change, ‘I’m just as human as you are’
“Some thought they should speak loud and slow, as if I was dumb and incapable. ‘Young lady, I want a cappuccino, you know COFFEE with FOAM?!’ Others tipped me too much and said things like, ‘I admire your strength and positivity.’”
‘Two weeks after I lost my baby, I was staring at a screen saying, ‘That’s our baby.’ The ultrasound tech said, ‘You’re right, it is, and it grew.’: Woman details healing journey after 23 miscarriages
“I awoke in pain. ‘God, if this is serious, please let me know!’ Not a second later, my color drained. Pouring sweat, every ounce of energy left my body. ‘We have to get you to the hospital! We don’t have time to wait!’ The look on my husband’s face confirmed it: I was dying.”
‘We’re newlyweds! We have no idea how to parent a 9-year-old.’ There were a million unknowns, but we said YES.’: Foster parents share journey, ‘We wouldn’t change a single moment’
“We were in the middle of making pancakes when the doorbell rang. And just like that, we were parents. There was no turning back now.”
‘Is it strange to be pregnant with someone else’s baby? The seed was planted. ‘Go meet your daddies.’: Woman ‘honored’ after navigating surrogacy journey twice
“I asked if I could see her face for a moment before they took her. We heard her crying and they brought over this new, perfect baby. I kissed her cheek, welcomed her to the world and told her to go meet her daddies.”
‘Redheads are witches!’ From my first breath, I was different. I had to find love within myself.’: Bullying survivor shares journey to self-love
“My hair put me in the spotlight. People thought I was strange or unhappy, but on the inside was a party full of light and laughter. I had to choose ME.”
‘We moved in after 5 months of dating. Not because we were madly in love, but because of the pandemic. We had a 50/50 chance of this working out.’: Woman shares pandemic love story
“We had a 50/50 chance of working out. My emotions had me laughing at the irony of finally finding a boyfriend after being single for five years – yet, here we were, in the middle of a pandemic on lockdown.”
‘You’re too young to have a sexual preference.’ I was bullied RELENTLESSLY. I was to find a wife and lead my household.’: Non-binary LGBTQ person shares journey, ‘Your queerness is your MAGIC’
“After SO much pain and anguish, I felt relief. I wasn’t changed, but for the first time, I accepted myself. For the first time, I said out loud, ‘I am gay.'”
‘He stabbed her with a pencil. The teacher said, ‘He just likes her!’: Mom fights for daughter being bullied for race, ‘You HAVE to be their advocate’
“’Is it okay for Black girls to be Elsa for Halloween?’ I said, ‘ANYONE can be Elsa! Even a boy!’ She cried, ‘They told me if I want to be Elsa, I should wash my dirty skin.’ I was FUMING.”
‘How could any guy be interested in me? I’d stare in the mirror, disgusted and wondering, ‘Why me?’ Makeup became my security blanket.’: Woman with Port Wine Stain, Blue Nevus urges ‘self-love starts when you stop comparing’
“Recently, I was asked, ‘Would you remove it if you could?’ I thought about it: ‘No.’ 10-year-old me would have never believed I’d be saying this!”
‘I’m sending over a file. It’s a little boy with medical needs.’ I was in the middle of a Waffle House. The day, the time, the minute came when I could finally hold him.’: Family adopt boy with facial difference, hearing impairment, ‘We will continue the torch’
“As I held our son, I wept for his first mommy and daddy. Their sacrifice and dedication to love were beyond unfathomable. I kissed him on his little forehead, and quietly promised to first mommy and daddy I would continue the torch lit by their sacrifice. I would adore our son. I would honor his story. And I would teach him about sacrificial love.”
‘Open your eyes. Be my mommy again,’ I wailed. Was it possible to lose both parents on the same day?’: Woman shares journey after losing parents to brain cancer, ‘We are not guaranteed time’
“I tucked her rosary into her hands as I played her favorite song, leaned over, and kissed her forehead. And with that, she was gone. With the same quiet softness with which she cradled me in her arms as a babe and whispered me a lullaby, she slipped out of this world and onto the next, where my dad was waiting to greet her.”
‘Your tests came back fine, just do yoga.’ I spent 29 years thinking I was weak. I was done feeling like a victim.’: Chronic illness warrior welcomes rainbow baby, ‘I’m proud of who I am’
“When I went to doctors, I didn’t get answers. Instead, I entered into a world of discrimination and trauma. ‘You just want pain meds.’ I’d need a lot of strength for the next part of my journey.”