“Abandoned in utero, the concept of a father is very sadly not part of her world. The choice for life to be this way was not mine nor hers. But she is loved beyond words.”
‘My 3-year-old’s teacher said, ‘Next week we’re working on F-A-T-H-E-R-S (yes, she spelled it out) day projects. What do you want me to do with her?’: Single mom pens open letter to co-parents
‘Look, the weird kid is back.’ They talked about him as if he was an exhibit at the zoo.’: Mom to son with Goldenhar syndrome says ‘we are more alike than we are different’
“They didn’t know in his first 2 months of life, he came close to death so many times. They didn’t see me standing outside his hospital room, frozen as the medical team performed chest compressions. They knew he was different. They just didn’t know why.”
‘She’d set a bowl of fat-free yogurt in front of me, hand my sister ice cream. ‘No one wants a fat daughter.’: Woman details battle with binge eating disorder, depression
“When my mom and siblings were asleep, I shoveled crackers in my mouth in the bathroom. I ate snack cakes on the kitchen floor. Food didn’t care I was depressed and anxious.”
‘We are the ones up all night with worry while our partners deep sleep beside us. Worst-case scenarios replay from the moment we hear, ‘Get ready, here he comes!’: Mom urges ‘let’s stick up for anxious parents’
“We worry before each doctor’s appointment. We worry when he’s up too high where we can’t see him at the park. We worry we aren’t signing her up for enough activities to help find her passions. And the worry will never stop. It will only increase as they grow older.”
‘The doctor would like to meet you in person.’ My legs shook uncontrollably. I knew.’: Woman ‘freshly diagnosed’ with thyroid cancer urges ‘love matters most of all’
“I sat in the doctor’s office and watched as each person passed me. I wondered who else might be awaiting life-altering news. I vowed no matter where life took me, it would never take me away from love.”
‘People will think you have cancer if you wear a headscarf.’ I lost half my hair in 3 months.’: Woman with alopecia embraces baldness
“There was hair on my pillow. I had to unclog the shower after each use. I’d be cooking and just see hair fall to the counter. I took the plunge.”
The Day I Was Diagnosed As Autistic Was The Day I Became ‘Normal’
“’You know, he is very ADHD.’ What I found blew open my world. I saw my son, but more so, I saw myself.”
Boy Bullied For Cerebral Palsy Becomes Certified Personal Trainer With Mission To ‘Help Others Surpass Roadblocks’
“Every day I knew I was the ‘kid with the disability.’ I had to learn the hard way it takes one step at a time.”
‘I was young, married, and having fun, then kids changed everything.’: Single dad of 3 details navigating life with kids post-divorce
“Life changed, my priorities changed, and we grew apart. Our family may look different, but the most important thing is that we are together and home is anywhere we are at.”
‘My husband asked, ‘Why are you crying?’ It was the first time I’d EVER heard every word to a movie.’: Woman with hearing loss advocates for early intervention
“I told her, ‘I want the biggest, most obnoxious-looking hearing aid possible.’ I was SO tired of telling people I was deaf.”