“Rob sent out an email to his fire department 2 days ago. He felt guilty even asking. A leave of absence would leave us without health insurance, and a child going through chemo. I can never accurately explain how thankful I am.”
‘He felt guilty even asking. Within 24 hours, every. Single. Shift. Was. Covered.’: Family of immunocompromised child thanks selfless firefighters
‘I wish I could hold her one more time. I’d give anything in the world to just be quarantined with her.’: Widows urges not to take quarantine for granted, ‘This is a season to take time for the ones we love’
“Don’t take this time for granted. There probably won’t be another season in our lives with so much time to be with the ones we love. We don’t know how this will end. We don’t know when this will end. But we do know that eventually, it will end. I’d give anything for Rachel to be here annoying the heck out of me. I’d give anything for her to be here loving me.”
‘Stop having play dates for the love of God!’ Just the thought of losing him makes it hard to breathe.’: Mom urges others ‘I am begging you, please just stay home’
“Knowing the common cold has left him unresponsive and limp is terrifying. My immune compromised child is depending on EVERYONE ELSE in this neighborhood, town, and world to flatten the curve, and keep this sickness AWAY from our family.”
‘We’d like to speak with your mom alone for a few minutes.’ At 11, I had to make the decision. ‘If I get rid of it, I’ll never have to go through this again?’: Childhood osteogenic sarcoma survivor amputates leg, ‘I couldn’t let cancer win’
“I was told it was just ‘growing pains.’ Hours passed. I heard people crying around me about a ‘missing leg’ and tried to open my eyes. I had to figure out what was going on! I was 11, hooked up to a monitored morphine drip. The pain is so vivid. My parents came over to greet me. ‘Dad, I did it!’ I didn’t quite understand what it all meant. I was determined to not die.”
‘I love you, and I promise I will be back.’ My son looked up in terror as they carried me out. I came to the horrifying realization I made a bold promise.’: Woman survives Ewing’s Sarcoma, leg amputation, ‘Life is too short to not do what makes you happy’
“I was crying and screaming as they carried me out. ‘You’re exaggerating and pain pill seeking.’ I only had a week to get my affairs in order. I made sure my son would remember me.”
‘She is simply too complicated.’ They didn’t see me as a little girl anymore. I was nothing but a body.’: Childhood leukemia survivor’s most important lesson, ‘Emotions are meant to be felt’
“I made a promise to myself. If I was cleared from having the chance of developing a second cancer, I’d get a tattoo. I met a lady who asked me a question that changed my life and perspective forever. ‘Why are you the way that you are?’ she asked. From then on, we became connected by the heart. We were able to help heal each other.”
‘5 months after my daughter was diagnosed with leukemia, I felt a soft lump in one breast. ‘It’s not cancer,’ the doctor assured me. I believed her.’: Mom diagnosed with breast cancer 5 months after daughter’s leukemia
“All throughout her treatment, I asked, ‘Why her and not me?’ Well, someone was listening. It wasn’t until she finished treatment, I took some time for myself. I felt a soft lump in my breast. I knew it was cancer. ‘Whatever happens, please stay positive.’ My daughter with leukemia was ready to take the lead and help me.”
‘Doctor…please believe us. Our son is not OK.’ He looked at us like we were crazy. ‘He looks perfectly fine to me!’: Mom urges ‘trust your gut’ after son’s Stage 4 Neuroblastoma misdiagnosed, cancer cells detected during ‘cancer-free hospital party’
“Pepe let out the most painful cry I’d ever heard. Cries of, ‘Mommy, I’m hurting.’ Days passed. He developed an uncontrollable cough. It was written off. The doctor looked at us like we were the sick ones. ‘Are you SURE this is the baby you describe as so sick?’ The next afternoon, I had a voicemail. ‘Hello, Ms. Zapien. Please get a hold of me ASAP!’ I felt the blood drain from my body. A mass the size of my fist was pushing down on Pepe’s left lung, and they were forming all over his little body.”
‘It’s okay for you to go now. You did such a good job fighting,’ I whispered. He nodded his head. As the sun went down, he stopped breathing.’: Hospice nurse shares touching last moments with dad diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma
“On his last day, I helped my dad pull off his last-minute wishes. He insisted on changing all the light bulbs in the house so my mom wouldn’t have to worry. This was his absolute priority. During a slow, quiet, final walk through Home Depot, my chest felt so heavy for him. I was holding my breath. Alone with him, I whispered, ‘You did such a good job fighting.’ Time was running out.”
‘Hang tight. He is on his way, and is beyond your wildest dreams.’ A week later, I met the man who would be my fiancé.’: Widow embraces love after loss after late husband dies tragically in ‘mock robbery’
“‘I’m sorry to say this, but your husband died tonight,’ the police officer said. The store was filled with gun powder. I looked across the room to find a pool of blood. Brian was 30 years old. We’d just gotten married only 86 days before. He didn’t realize the gun was fully loaded and shot him in the face.”
