“I would copy and paste the personalities of those around me. My sense of identity was so lost. I was in survival mode.”
‘My report cards constantly read, ‘Hazel needs to socialize with her peers.’ I realized how different I was.’: Woman shares journey to autism diagnosis, ‘I’m embracing myself’
‘The thinner I got, the more attention I received. I decided to quit eating altogether.’: Eating disorder survivor opens up about self-love, ‘I’m at peace with my body’
“I starved myself Saturday through Thursday, only eating six pretzels and half an apple every day. Then Friday came and I’d black out. That was my life. I lived for food.”
‘Are babies supposed to breathe that fast?’ I couldn’t shake the feeling something was terribly wrong.’: Mom shares newborn’s journey with congenital heart defect, ‘He’s THRIVING’
“At his 48-hour checkup, Liam looked perfect. He was gaining weight beautifully. I had a strange feeling. ‘He’s breathing 90 times per minute.’ That sentence made the doctors pause.”
‘After watching my daughter fight for her life, I realized I had to fight for our family. I needed to heal.’: Single mom shares daughter’s journey with Down syndrome, ‘We’re growing together’
“My husband had been cheating on me and they were pregnant. I remember thinking, ‘Her daughter will live longer than mine.’ I had to give her the best life.”
‘College is NOT an option for you.’ It was a defining moment. My body gave up, but I was ARMED with newfound determination.’: Young woman shares journey with Cerebral Palsy, ‘I had to learn to embrace myself’
“I went into the hospital that day thinking my life was going to change for the better, but instead, it was worse than ANYONE could’ve imagined. I had to take control and shock EVERYONE.”
‘I drove with a huge cooler full of milk, sobbing. I was overwhelmed with gratitude.’: Mom donates 10,000 ounces of breast milk to moms in need
“Breastfeeding may be natural, but that absolutely does not mean it is easy.”
‘I lived a double life, high schooler by day and patient by night. I hid my illnesses out of pure embarrassment.’: Chronic illness warrior shares self-love journey, ‘Now I embrace my scars’
“I received cruel messages like, ‘If I were you, I’d rather be dead.’ My health was a taboo topic. When I got my NJ tube, I realized hiding my illness was impossible.”
‘All my life, I heard, ‘Breast milk is the only way to go.’ I felt like a failure. What was wrong with my body?’: New mom shares breastfeeding journey, donates breast milk, ‘I am beyond grateful’
“I had no idea where to start, where to go, or who to ask for help. I didn’t know anyone who was pumping, let alone donating breast milk.”
‘My doctor said, ‘You’re just a tired mom.’ I was too weak to move from the couch. Breathing became a challenge. I knew he was wrong.’: Mom navigates life with chronic illnesses, ‘Be kind to yourself’
“I pushed my health to the back burner. Finally, I had to take a step back. ‘How can I care for those I love when I’m not caring for myself? I knew my doctor was wrong.”
‘The judge skimmed my letter. In less than 5 minutes, we were ushered out of the courtroom. I felt powerless.’: Foster mom advocates for child welfare, ‘They need people to fight for them’
“My knuckles were white as I gripped the steering wheel. I was fighting back tears. My 6-year-old foster child sat in the backseat, oblivious. The system was failing him and no one cared.”
