“I’ve felt different my whole life. By high school, I was beginning to figure out I was queer. I’d assumed that was the thing ‘different’ about me. That’s not what happened. I was different at my core.”
‘I guess you’re wondering about the results.’ It was like lightbulb after lightbulb going off.’: After diagnosis, woman advocates for autism in girls, ‘Representation matters’
‘My dad unexpectedly left a note on the counter. He was leaving us for another woman, but as the pastor of our church he wouldn’t admit it.’: Daughter pens touching tribute to single mom
“My beautiful mother put down that handwritten letter, and picked up determination. She did what a mother does; she loved me every moment of every day. I will never fully know the sacrifices she made for me.”
‘I don’t know who I am.’ I struggled with feeling depressed and hopeless. All my dreams died.’: Man diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia raises awareness, ‘I want to encourage people’
“I had more and more difficulties performing physical functions. I couldn’t keep my balance. ‘Maybe I had too many concussions.’ I felt defeated thinking about all the things I wouldn’t be able to do with my wife and kids.”
‘7 Siblings in Need of Home.’ Their parents had been killed. The story hit my heart like a ton of bricks. If not us, then who?’: Couple adopt 7 siblings after parents die in car crash
“Their parents had been killed, but they all had miraculously survived without seat belts. They were ejected from the vehicle and were badly injured. I thought about them all day. Their sweet, hope-filled faces jumped off of the screen and into my heart.”
‘I worked 9-5 trying to hide the pain. My job still let me go. I realized just how sick I was.’: Woman gets masters degree despite mystery chronic illness
“I was experiencing odd symptoms, such as chest pain, sweating, and tingling in my limbs. Yet, I had no diagnosis.”
‘I’d go to yoga high as a kite. I shared needles with everyone. It eventually caught up to me, and I got sick.’: Yoga instructor celebrates 8 years sober, ‘I manifested my life’’
“My boyfriend broke up with me because I couldn’t stay sober. I got evicted. All my dreams faded away as I got deeper into my addiction. I realized there had to be a bigger meaning to my life.”
‘She may not survive surgery.’ For 9 days, her chest remained open. She wasn’t the baby I expected.’: Mom has photo shoot in ICU before preemie passes to ‘make each day beautiful’
“Her body was too small to close over her swollen heart. Piles of machinery overwhelmed her metal crib. I hesitantly brought a small box into the ICU. Inside was a blanket and matching hair bow. I was shocked by how stunning she looked.”
‘Get off the toilet and deliver her!’ My boyfriend grabbed a shoelace and blanket. There was nothing they could do.’: Woman celebrates rainbow baby after loss, ‘She is everything to me’
“I woke up bleeding. I didn’t want to believe it was happening. ‘You need to prepare to deliver your daughter.’ I grabbed a towel and placed it down on the bed. I was only 22 weeks pregnant.”
‘What if I can’t do this?’ I would wake up in the night, wracked with sobs. I leaped into the unknown.’: Mom says daughter with Down syndrome is ‘my greatest, most compassionate teacher’
“Her voice was full of pity. ‘One in nine.’ The electricity of paralyzing grief that overcame my body on that day is something I still have difficulty putting into words. But as I cradled her tiny body close for the first time, I felt a wave of peace.”
‘I don’t want to die.’ Tears ran down his face as he held his little brother’s hand. I want to take away his pain.’: Mom says 7-year-old son with rare cancer is ‘a force to be reckoned with’
“He started wearing his winter coat throughout the day and complained he was cold. I noticed he had some swelling on his privates. In my gut, I had a bad feeling something just wasn’t right.”
