“Golden, silky hair had dried like straw. Once radiant skin went waxy-blue. We sang, ‘you are my sunshine, my only sunshine’ one last time before we walked away from our baby’s body, never again able to hug her, to kiss her, to see her become the remarkable woman we knew she would one day become. The day Roxie died was the day three lives ended, all because a summer camp did not honor a basic promise — to keep our baby safe.”
‘We kissed our girl, told her we loved her to the moon and back. Less than an hour later, her slim body was bloated beyond recognition.’: Parents rally for change after losing daughter to summer camp negligence
I Gave Birth To Twins, And Both Have Autism
“I started noticing red flags. The pediatrician reassured me, ‘They’re twins, it’s expected! They just take longer to learn skills.’ I took my concerns to Google, and all the ‘bad things’ and ‘never will be able’ sentences popped up.”
‘Are you sure you want to do this? He’ll be unfaithful.’ It felt like they had betrayed me. I started to doubt everything.’: Woman shares long-distance love story, ‘It’s SO worth it’
“Airport goodbyes are seriously the worst. All you have are phone calls and text messages. No more walks in the park. No more dates. It was easier for me to say, ‘That’s it. I’m breaking up with you,’ than let him in.”
‘My biology teacher said, ‘You’re lying. There’s no way you’d be alive without a pancreas.’ I held back tears, mortified. She accused me of my disease not being real.’: Diabetic woman details journey, ‘Our stories need to be heard’
“She tried to embarrass me in front of the class. ‘You’re wrong. I know what was done to my body.’ The room grew quiet as I sat there in shock. She accused me of my disease not being real. I knew right then and there I needed to make a change.”
‘It’s okay,’ we told her. She was left to wipe the tears. My heart hurt a little for her. I long to see joy within their eyes.’: Camp caregiver’s kindness and encourages girl to ‘face her monster’
“Despite the encouragement, applause, and prayers from her friends, she could not bring herself to do it. But as I walked away, I couldn’t help but wish she could have jumped. And, in that moment, it dawned on me. I think it fits with what we are all facing these days.”
‘I asked her when vacation starts. ‘In a week. I’m DREADING it. I already lied to my church and said Nicholas was 5 so he could go to Vacation Bible School.’ This warmed my soul.’
“One of my girlfriends called. We’ve been friends for almost 20 years. We sugarcoat nothing. Summer is NOT amazing. And if you ask your kids, it’s BORING. These vacation snapshots are the best 5 minutes of the day. The other 23 hours and 55 minutes are a complete cesspool.”
‘There’s one season that really brings out my working mom guilt. Hint, hint, it’s the same as swimsuit season.’
“The teachers are counting down, the students are hyping up, the pools are about to open, and everyone’s ready for some good summer fun! Everyone except those of us who don’t get a break. The faint tune of the ice cream truck on a Tuesday afternoon is all the gut-punch it takes to make my eyes swell with tears.”
‘No, not again! I can’t handle another child like this!’ I was angry at people who asked, ‘Are you gonna try again for a ‘normal’ child? I sat in the bathroom, crying.’
‘I was in survivor mode. I wouldn’t let myself feel. I couldn’t be weak; I had to keep going. People asked, ‘When will they grow out of it?’ I remember getting to a point where I thought, ‘This is going to kill me. I need to accept it.'”
‘They said he has no friends and that no one likes him. I have a 13-year-old son with autism. He went to summer camp and was bullied.’
“They called him names said he was dumb. They stole money and a wrist band that allowed him to play paint ball.”
