“A STAGGERING number of youth are left subject to the brutal seasons in NYC. As a Black gay man, I was embarrassed I hadn’t known. THIS was the community I had to help.”
‘My small apartment was OVERFLOWING with garments, and my heart and spirit were overflowing with JOY.’: Man starts ‘Knit the Rainbow’ to help LGBTQ youth in need
‘Mom, I don’t feel like a boy OR a girl.’ I realized they only knew life as ‘boy’ or ‘girl.’: Mom of non-binary child says ‘they will ALWAYS come first’
“I always thought of myself as an ‘ally,’ but here was a moment, this was my child, my flesh and blood. I knew what I said next mattered more than anything in their world.”
‘She said, ‘You’re the place I can be myself.’ If ONE conversation changed her summer, I wanted to help change someone’s LIFE.’: Foster care advocate urges ‘step up and make a difference’
“What if they want nothing to do with me? What if I can’t help? The first day I met the children I was SO nervous.”
‘Where do you get your energy?’ Apparently, I’m good at pretending. My condition was URGENT.’: Woman diagnosed with Addison’s disease, Type 1 Diabetes, ‘My diseases will NEVER stop me’
“I felt embarrassed, since there was ‘nothing wrong’ with me. I wouldn’t have survived much longer.”
‘My husband sat me down. ‘I hate seeing you in constant pain. You’re good enough if you don’t breastfeed.’: New mom embarks on motherhood journey, ‘She’s our fresh start’
“The pain was excruciating. I cried every time I fed her. I felt like I couldn’t provide for my child. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”
‘You’re a problem child.’ After 18 years of being taught to hate myself, I received a diagnosis.’: Woman with autism shares self-acceptance journey, finds strength in service dog, ‘She saved my life’
“There were times where I was just too mentally exhausted to cope. I just couldn’t face going outside. Lyra gives me the courage to try new things. She’s more than just a dog. She’s part of my family.”
‘A baby will solve it all.’ He didn’t want pregnancy to take away from HIS attention. It was the LAST STRAW.’: Woman finds love after abusive marriage, ‘It’s a process, but you WILL trust again’
“He dropped me off in the middle of the freeway while I was 7 months pregnant, and drove away. ENOUGH was ENOUGH. I met a one-of-a-kind man.”
‘I’d LOSE MY HEAD and blow up at the smallest situation. Visiting the kids left me feeling blessed to be ALIVE.’: Man seeks help for mental health, starts charity journey
“I burst into tears. ‘What’s wrong?!’ They were so confused. They didn’t know any different than the life they were living. Seeing these children happy inspires me to show more gratitude.”
‘You’re just NOT trying hard enough.’ I KNEW I was different, but I tried to brush it off. Then something magical happened.’: Woman diagnosed with autism shares journey, ‘I will live a BEAUTIFUL life’
“‘You’re WAY too sensitive.’ They don’t know I am constantly aware of the clock ticking, people typing, colleagues moving, screens shining, lamp shining, them laughing, the radio playing. This world is so LOUD.”
‘You’re YOUNG, what do you have to be stressed about?’ I was living the life of a 50-year-old. I was a caregiver AND a patient.’: Migraine warrior takes care of mom during cancer battle
“When my mom asked me to take a step back from school and work to take care of her during her cancer treatments, I didn’t hesitate to choose my mama. By being a caregiver, I learned how to be a patient.”
