“I told my therapist, ‘We sit on opposite sofas in the living room, but I feel like we’re on opposite planets. There’s no intimacy, no passion.’ I chalked it up to being newlyweds while he battled multiple addictions behind closed doors. When I discovered the messages, I screenshotted them, planning to present them in divorce court.”
‘My 2-week-old infant in my arms, I discovered my husband was having an affair with a close friend. All I could mutter was, ‘I’m going to die,’ over and over again.’: Woman navigates marital infidelity, addiction, ‘I am living proof it gets better’
‘You must love YOURSELF.’ At 4, she leans down so I hear her. I teach her about my difficulties, and free us from shame.’: Woman with hearing impairment describes ‘pure, deep, powerful’ motherhood
“My greatest love story has been motherhood. I’d been living my life in the dark, allowing negative thoughts about my disability to hold me back. Having her has healed me.”
‘I was striving for unattainable perfection.’: Woman with Cerebral Palsy shares battle with PTSD, ‘I was BORN to thrive’
“I didn’t see an end in sight. I stayed up for 32 hours straight as panic attacks caused me to blackout, resulting in concussions. I was tired. I was done.”
‘If only he’d ask me to dance!’ He was addicted to drugs, and I was addicted to him.’: Woman marries after divorce, ‘Love is ALL that matters’
“I was tired of the fast lane, the parties, and the men. After holding on for dear life to a complete set of emotional baggage, I finally had to surrender it ALL.”
‘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!’”
‘Would you consider all 3?’ I was now sole custodian of a 1, 2 and 3-year-old and three teens. We didn’t think twice.’: Woman becomes foster mom after losing son, ‘My babies saved me’
“We were asked to house the baby girl so she could be with her siblings. We were ADAMANT about the ‘temporary’ part. There were dressers in the living room, playpens, cribs and toys everywhere.”
‘She only has a 50% chance of survival.’ I was just a teen! But I HAD to give her a fighting chance.’: Mom births daughter with Rett Syndrome, ‘I choose to live in the present’
“The doctor sent me straight to the hospital. ‘You could have a stroke.’ I vividly remember the first time I held her. Her eyes would roll into the back of her head. I’ll never forget the fear I felt.”
‘Have you lost your MIND?’ The thought of her lying alone was too much. There’s NO WAY we could take on 4 fragile kids.’: Couple pursues special needs adoptions, ‘We’d do it all again’
“People ask, ‘Why do you want a child who’s so sick?’ I don’t see their feeding tubes or medicines. I see THEM, and I love THEM. We went from being a boring couple to having 4 kids. We would learn ANYTHING for them.”
‘I’ll call you when I get to the parking area.’ They decided to coast the truck down the mountain. They had no brakes.’: Daughter honored for organ donation, mom connects with another through ‘divine intervention’
“She called and said, ‘This might be the best day of my life!’ I pleaded with God to keep her safe.”
‘We have to come with new ways to connect.’ Our traditional stages went dark. COVID wasn’t going to stop us.’: Musician finds peace during COVID-19 Christmas, ‘We’ve found healing’
“The pandemic has yielded a range of emotions. Yet, one can still find hope, comfort and peace through music. Once we are able to resume regular performances, I hope we remember those who cannot come to us, and we will go to them.”
