“I knew when I left school I’d never be a doctor or lawyer, so I used my knowledge in being kind and helping others.”
‘People with anxiety later found my card, which made their day. I don’t expect a pat on the back.’: Man gives back with fundraising project, ‘The work is so rewarding’
‘You’re pregnant, aren’t you?’ The results came in. She was beautiful, but seeing her in person was a shock.’: Baby born with spina bifida welcomed into family, ‘She’s a ray of sunshine’
“The specialist sat us down to give what typically is a solemn discussion. We cheered! To us, it was great news! Our hope for her was that she’d be a fighter.”
‘It HAS to get better!’ I didn’t want divorce. But dating sounded AWFUL. We both ate our words.’: Single mom finds love after heartbreak, ‘I’m the happiest I’ve been’
“My world shattered before me. Everything I thought I knew was put into question. I told myself ‘I’m not dating ANYONE for at least a few years!’”
‘My dad said, ‘You’ve been emotionally beaten.’ I knew THIS marriage was different. Our kids were smitten.’: After abuse, woman blends family with new husband
“He wouldn’t come to bed. ‘I married you for the wrong reasons.’ In a year I went from a working single mom of 2 to being a married, homeschooling, stay-at-home mom of 4.”
‘Rico called me nasty!’ She’s only FOUR. I remember that exact moment. I remember trying to be small, to disappear.’: Mom helps daughter through bullying, ‘I’m changing the narrative for her’
“‘If Rico calls you nasty again, I want you to tell him, ‘Rico, you are strong; Rico, you are brave; Rico, you are smart; Rico, you are kind. Just like me. I am NOT nasty, and neither are you.’ Adi, sometimes when people are mean, they’re just not happy with themselves.’”
‘You’re faking it for attention.’ THIS is why we’re afraid to ask for help. I put my energy into finding answers. I’m worth fighting for.’: Chronic illness warrior struggles for diagnosis, ‘It won’t stop me from achieving my dreams’
“I thought I was crazy. I KNEW something was wrong, but after being told it was ‘all in my head,’ I started to doubt myself because of the medical gaslighting. Now, I’m FINALLY getting help.”
‘I don’t want to be a man. And I don’t want to be a woman.’ I wanted to be free of the binary. Everything CLICKED’: Non-binary person shares self-discovery journey, ‘I’m finally at home in my body’
“Some nights, I’d cry and stare at the ceiling. I didn’t like looking at my chest in the mirror. I hated leaving the house. I felt forced to wear a mask every day. I wanted a world that reflected me, a rainbow world with limitless colors.”
‘Where do YOU come from?’ I hated those questions. I was the ‘token brown girl.’ THIS is why representation matters.’: Adoptee finds strength in sharing story, ‘Families can look different’
“It wasn’t something I talked about. It made me feel different, what every child DOESN’T want. I only wanted to play with white dolls with blonde hair. I stopped telling people the truth. I had SO many questions about my identity.”
‘You were born from my heart. I went out into the world to find you.’ My heart raced with excitement. I had to uncover the truth.’: Adoptee shares search for biological family, ‘Family is defined by love’
“My mother was told I died after I was circumcised. She was 13. Lies, secrecy, and betrayal run rampant in the family line. I sat there, stunned. Could this be the link to my past I’d always dreamed of?”
‘My life is over and I’m only 28!’ How could I raise my son? He’d grow up learning to take care of me.’: Mom battles Multiple Sclerosis, ‘It’s about finding the silver linings’
“Would my son end up taking care of me? I went from moments of being emotionally sound to breaking down. It took MONTHS, but I finally understood my life was NOT over.”
